Best way to incubate eggs

[Emily Young]

So once my old hen (7 years old) realized there were two roosters, she became baby crazy, becoming broody and pecking my hand even if she wasn't sitting on an egg. I'm not quite sure if she's still laying, but if she is and her egg gets fertilized, should I let her sit on it? or put it in an incubator? the only reason I'm questioning this is because she has a history of eating eggs, although she hasn't done it in a while, and also it would be her first time hatching and would she know what to do? plus the nests are off the ground. I've had one chick hatch unexpectedly when I was away, and I still have no clue how it got down without injuring itself. Any advice?

 

[IZZYBELLA]

I am a huge fan of letting broodies do the work. In fact, I've never incubated eggs any other way. Make sure she is truly broody before you set eggs for her. She needs to be sitting pretty much all day every day. In the meantime, start holding aside eggs that you have a good idea are fertilized. (They don't have to be her eggs.) When she has shown she is broody, mark all of the eggs you place under her so you know which ones she has been sitting on. It is likely that other hens will continue to lay in her nest. I would set at least 6 eggs, since some will get broken or won't be fertile.

It is fine to either leave her in the raised nest box for the duration, or to try to move her to low ground now. I've done it both ways. The problem with leaving her is that the other hens disturb the nest by wanting to lay in it and eggs get broken. If you choose to leave her in the nest box, be very aware of the due date (anywhere from 19-23 days after setting the eggs) and watch for chicks, because they do jump out and can't get back up. Once hatched, you will want to move the mama and chicks to low ground where they have access to food and water and are protected from predators as soon as they are all hatched. I often set up a dog cage in the coop or garage for this stage. Good luck!

 

[Emily Young]

I am a huge fan of letting broodies do the work. In fact, I've never incubated eggs any other way. Make sure she is truly broody before you set eggs for her. She needs to be sitting pretty much all day every day. In the meantime, start holding aside eggs that you have a good idea are fertilized. (They don't have to be her eggs.) When she has shown she is broody, mark all of the eggs you place under her so you know which ones she has been sitting on. It is likely that other hens will continue to lay in her nest. I would set at least 6 eggs, since some will get broken or won't be fertile.

It is fine to either leave her in the raised nest box for the duration, or to try to move her to low ground now. I've done it both ways. The problem with leaving her is that the other hens disturb the nest by wanting to lay in it and eggs get broken. If you choose to leave her in the nest box, be very aware of the due date (anywhere from 19-23 days after setting the eggs) and watch for chicks, because they do jump out and can't get back up. Once hatched, you will want to move the mama and chicks to low ground where they have access to food and water and are protected from predators as soon as they are all hatched. I often set up a dog cage in the coop or garage for this stage. Good luck!

thanks! I never thought of marking the eggs before. now we just have to wait until the roosters actually start acting like roosters !