Bacteria from purchased hatching eggs?

[squirlbait]

Hello!

I've looked around, but I can't seem to find advice on this issue.

I have a broody hen (barred rock) and I would love to buy a handful of hatching eggs for her to hatch. I contacted the farm where I got my hens and he said that I couldn't do this because the eggs would have different bacteria then my girls and this could introduce illness to my existing flock. I absolutely do not want to endanger my ladies!

He said as an alternative, I could try to slip day old chicks under her and see if she would accept them. In this scenario though, the little chicks would be at risk because of the exposure to new germs at our place.

Our call got disconnected before I could ask for more advice. Has this issue come up for you all? How did you keep everyone as safe and healthy as possible?

I really wanted to let her have a few babies, but I'm not willing to risk her getting sick.

Thanks for any input!

Megan

 

[satay]

Putting eggs under the hen would be a lot safer than adding day old chicks if that is what you are concerned about. Day olds could have some diseases from where they are hatched less likely if you buy eggs, Either is a good idea if you buy from a reputable place.