Are you new to chickens / when did you first get chickens

[BentleyBY20]

Very new.
We have 11 girls, and a very active Rooster. I call them, Mutants, mixed breeds. Got them from neighbor, they threw eggs away, and I was tired of payng $3 a dz for eggs. Lol. Because of this wonderful year and meat shortage...works for us in a few ways. One of my girls is currently sitting on 11 eggs. Its cold, so not sure of their chances. Learning all I can to get this batch, up and running. Any advice, would be greatly appreciated. Just figured out a way to use one of my rabbit hutches, like you did w/dog crate. It's on legs, dont need press and seal, easy access for me as i am disabled. I have the heating pad, towel, and press and seal, and wire for hoop. Can you put water nipplers in a milk jug? Can you put one vertical and one vertical in it?

 

[Meg-in-MT]

Hello! Welcome to BYC!!

How cold is cold? Broody hens are fantastic temperature regulators, so I doubt you'll have any issue unless she wanders away from the nest too long. Are you using the hutch as a brooder? Is your hen sitting in there now?

@aart may offer some advice on nipple waterers.

 

[BentleyBY20]

Yes to all. Just now she was off, first time I've seen her leave it. Hubby has seen it. Last night, he counted 11, today, there's 13, with one being ceramic. Shes been sitting for ten days now, started with two. Supposed to get down to 38 degree tonight. Yes, she's in the coop.

 

[aart]

I have the heating pad, towel, and press and seal, and wire for hoop.

With a broody hen you don't need the heating pad, the broody will keep them warm.

One of my girls is currently sitting on 11 eggs.

Shes been sitting for ten days now, started with two.

She started with 2 eggs and now there are 11?
I assume the extra eggs are from other hens laying in the broodies nest?
...and that you have a male bird so eggs are fertile?
Have you candled them to see if they are developing?

@aart may offer some advice on nipple waterers.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/nipple-feeders-do-they-work.1419488/post-23329333

 

[BentleyBY20]

No, hoping to when hubby gets home. Hes the farmer, im the apprentice.

 

[aart]

No, hoping to when hubby gets home. Hes the farmer, im the apprentice.

No... what?

 

[NatJ]

No... what?

I took it as "no candling has been done yet."
But I could be wrong.

Last night, he counted 11, today, there's 13, with one being ceramic. Shes been sitting for ten days now, started with two.

If you want eggs to hatch, it usually works better to collect them every day until you have enough, and then put them all under the hen at once. If another egg gets added each day, then the chicks should hatch at the rate of one each day: but the hen cannot take proper care of the ones that hatch first while still sitting on the last eggs for another 10 days. So if they hatch, you might need to take the hatched chicks away and raise them in a brooder, or else let the hen raise the first few while you put the rest of the eggs in an incubator until they hatch. You would probably not be able to add the later chicks to the batch with the hen, because they would be so many days younger, so you would have to raise some of them in a brooder too.