Broody chicken.

[vicjess2008]

I have a Black sex link that went broody about 2.5 weeks ago. I have a male Golden seabright bantam, Japanese bantam, and a Black Silkie bantam. My hen started out with 32 eggs. Now i see about 8 or 9 and whole bunch of egg shells. I know that there were chicks developing cause i accidently broke one and it had a partially developed chick in it. My question is why have i started out with 32 and now only have 8 or 9. And can those bantams listed breed with a full size sex link?

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

I have a Black sex link that went broody about 2.5 weeks ago. I have a male Golden seabright bantam, Japanese bantam, and a Black Silkie bantam. My hen started out with 32 eggs. Now i see about 8 or 9 and whole bunch of egg shells. I know that there were chicks developing cause i accidently broke one and it had a partially developed chick in it. My question is why have i started out with 32 and now only have 8 or 9. And can those bantams listed breed with a full size sex link?

Welcome to BYC!
Yes, bantams can breed large fowl hens.
Unfortunately, 32 eggs is a clutch too large for successful incubation but one hen - when a bird goes broody it is best to limit the clutch size to a reasonable size (varies by hen as far as what she can successfully cover - *I* would have stuck to 12 or fewer for a bird of your hen's type) to best assure a successful outcome for the most eggs possible. The eggs that have been lost were probably broken as the hen attempted to maneuver, could have exploded due to failed development, broken by other birds if she is brooding in an area accessible to other birds in her flock, etc.
For future reference, if a hen goes broody you want to determine what size clutch to have her set, mark the eggs you want to have in that clutch (a non toxic marker, etc), remove all other eggs and then check her nest daily (if in an area other hens can access) and continue removing any unmarked eggs as other hens will lay eggs into the nest she is setting in.

 

[nchls school]

I have a Black sex link that went broody about 2.5 weeks ago. I have a male Golden seabright bantam, Japanese bantam, and a Black Silkie bantam. My hen started out with 32 eggs. Now i see about 8 or 9 and whole bunch of egg shells. I know that there were chicks developing cause i accidently broke one and it had a partially developed chick in it. My question is why have i started out with 32 and now only have 8 or 9. And can those bantams listed breed with a full size sex link?

32 eggs is more than one hen can brood. I can not answer to why so many broke for sure, but having that many eggs break could mean that he hen is breaking and eating them. Once they start eating eggs it often continues. Yes. The sex link can cross with bantams.

 

[vicjess2008]

Welcome to BYC!
Yes, bantams can breed large fowl hens.
Unfortunately, 32 eggs is a clutch too large for successful incubation but one hen - when a bird goes broody it is best to limit the clutch size to a reasonable size (varies by hen as far as what she can successfully cover - *I* would have stuck to 12 or fewer for a bird of your hen's type) to best assure a successful outcome for the most eggs possible.  The eggs that have been lost were probably broken as the hen attempted to maneuver, could have exploded due to failed development, broken by other birds if she is brooding in an area accessible to other birds in her flock, etc. 

For future reference, if a hen goes broody you want to determine what size clutch to have her set, mark the eggs you want to have in that clutch (a non toxic marker, etc), remove all other eggs and then check her nest daily (if in an area other hens can access) and continue removing any unmarked eggs as other hens will lay eggs into the nest she is setting in. 

My when i fist noticed her sitting i removed her from the flock and placed her in her own enviroment. So no other hen can add to her nest. My other question is the eggs that are left, she is still sitting on them will they hatch? Is there something i should do to make it more of a success, or should i just let her be.

 

[nchls school]

My when i fist noticed her sitting i removed her from the flock and placed her in her own enviroment. So no other hen can add to her nest. My other question is the eggs that are left, she is still sitting on them will they hatch? Is there something i should do to make it more of a success, or should i just let her be.

If you have a rooster they should be fertile and hatch (candle them), but are they covered in egg gunk from the broken eggs? If yes they may not hatch. You might want to give her fresh eggs to brood. Watch this hen-if more eggs are broken then you have an egg eater. That's a habit that is had to beak; nearly impossible. She will hatch nothing most likely. Good luck.