Brooding Hen

[hydra174]

I currently have a Welsumer hen sitting on some eggs. I have not checked how many or what other breed eggs are under her. She is still in the coop with the other chickens. It is going on day 7 should I candle the eggs, and should I separate her from the others? I have a Welsumer rooster in with them. Will I need to separate him from them when the chicks hatch?

Any input would be appreciated.

 

[Judy]

If you're going to separate the hen for setting, which is safer for the eggs, you should really do it before you give her the eggs you want to hatch. If you try to move her now, she may give up being broody altogether. If you decide to try anyway, it's best to do it just after nightfall. If you didn't mark the eggs you want to hatch, they are probably not the same eggs she started with.

After the chicks hatch, many people, including me, let the mama raise the chicks in with the flock. The rooster may even help raise them, and is rarely a threat, unlike the other hens. The mama should protect the chicks from the other hens.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/broody-hens

 

[hydra174]

She did not end up hatching the eggs. They were broken because of the other chickens getting into the nesting box. she still was set on hatching eggs even setting on an empty nest. The next day she adopted 2 eggs and the next day another. So I made a new nesting box and sectioned it off from the general population. I put her and the eggs in the new box and the next day I went to the local feed store and purchased 3 Polish Crested hens. When I introduced the chicks the hen pecked a little so I put them under her and that was that. She is now is a proud mom they follow her everywhere. She is also still trying to hatch the 3 eggs as well.