Broody? Are you sure?

[Manningjw]

It is a good idea to wait and collect on the eggs you intend to let her hatch and place them under her at the same time. Setting eggs each day increases the chance she will give up on perfectly healthy/developing eggs that were set at a later date. You can store eggs up to 10 days before setting them to hatch. I have successfully hatched eggs even older than 10 days prior to setting,

With 8 or more eggs it is perfectly reasonable to get 2 pullets. It is usually going to be 50/50 but small scale hatches never pan out like that. I FINALLY had a 50/50 split in the chicks I kept from my last hatch 4 boys 4 girls and the others I sold as straight run long before i could tell their gender.

Your question about how long she will wait to lay eggs again. Every chicken is different. Some of them will molt after hatching chicks, some will spend several months not laying just as some breeds stop laying in the winter. My chicken started laying about 4 weeks after her clutch hatched, at that time she was essentially 'over' raising the young now independent chicks.

 

[krista74]

Thank you, that is very helpful information.

Poor Orpy, she has only been laying for 2 months and already she is going to stop!

I guess she just has other priorities though

(This is why I got 4 RIR's as well as 2 BO's - to make sure someone would keep laying when the BO's played Mommy!)

Krista

 

[Happy Chooks]

My questions: Is it ok for me to put any more eggs I get today and tomorrow under her? (I only have 5 layers) How long will she stop laying for?

We are going to corner off that section of the coop so she is still a part of general population (hopefully making integration easier later on).

Do I need to do anything else for her? Should I make sure she goes outside for fresh air every day? Or do I just leave her to it?

Thanks, Krista (AKA: Soon to be Nana?!)

Yes, you can add whatever you want today. One day difference will not be a big deal. Mark the eggs (not pencil as it rubs off) so you know any new ones that have been added and you can remove those daily.

She will not lay again until she has weaned her babies. Some of mine wean them around 4 weeks, others mother them forever. It just depends on your hen.

You do not have to force her to go outside, she will go on her own. Broodies are not laying eggs and are sitting all day, so they are not exerting much energy - they don't need to eat much. You may not see her out, as she will sneak it. (to protect her nest) Just make sure food and water are available for her. Put food/water at chick level when they hatch.