Broody hen and collecting eggs

[Jjdesmo11]

I have a coop with 5 hens and a rooster. My youngest hen is broody and sitting on all the other hens eggs. Could I let her sit on a few but continue to collect eggs as well. Maybe mark ones I want her to continue to lay on and gather the others to eat? Also what is the smallest amount I should let her lay on? I assume it’s not safe just to let her raise one baby? I’m new to raising chickens and have never tried to raise babies (I got my current chickens from a friend already grown) I really don’t want/need anymore chickens but want to give this hen an opportunity to have some babies

 

[chuckachucka]

Yes it' very important to mark the ones she is going to hatch and collect the others. Otherwise you could end up with eggs developing all at different stages and they won't all be able to hatch later.
It is recommended to either block off the brooding hen from the others or relocate her somewhere she will not be bothered by the other chickens to prevent her eggs being damaged or her being distubed into leaving the nest. It's best to separate the broody from the others with some kind of wire set up so that they can still all see each other. This will make mixing mother and babies back into the flock easier later.

Its absolutely fine for a hen to raise one baby but I would aim for two because they are happier with other chicks especially when they get older and the mother weans them. If you are confident the eggs are fertilised leave her with just two eggs that you are sure she has been sitting on for the same amount of time.

 

[redranger209]

I would mark maybe 6 or 7 eggs, and then daily take the eggs. If you skip a few days of taking them, you will be cracking partially developed eggs! Or take her out of the nest box, and put her in a separate crate so they can’t lay in it.

 

[Jjdesmo11]

Thanks for your responses. Great ideas. I do feel it would be best to cage her off. She’s low on the pecking order in my flock and I worry for her babies. Best way to mark them? Also any easy ways to see if they are fertilized other than waiting waiting till I see something forming and holding a flashlight to it?

 

[redranger209]

Nope just candling, and a sharpie will work fine.

 

[bobbi-j]

Thanks for your responses. Great ideas. I do feel it would be best to cage her off. She’s low on the pecking order in my flock and I worry for her babies. Best way to mark them? Also any easy ways to see if they are fertilized other than waiting waiting till I see something forming and holding a flashlight to it?

If you separate her, make sure she has enough room to get off the nest daily to eat, drink and poop when she feels the need. Most broodies will take care of this all in one 20-30 minute break from the nest. I am able to section off an end of my coop for my broodies.

I mark my eggs by drawing a circle around them with a Sharpie. I can then see at a glance if the eggs in the nest all belong to the broody, and not have to pick it up to look for the marking.

The only way to check fertilization is to candle them and see if there is development. I usually try to wait until 7 days to candle, as development is quite obvious by then.

 

[Jjdesmo11]

Great idea! Thanks for the tips. My other chickens sleep on the perches in the coop and my broody hen sleeps on the floor (only since she’s been broody) she lays near the back door and the little door seen in the picture leads to a ladder and food under the coop. I would think that would be dangerous for babies. Would it be best to relocate them? Would it be cruel to take them once they hatch? Thanks! I really appreciate the tips