Broody Hen and incubating eggs

[stargazerlabs]

My hen just went broody today. I have had 12 eggs in the bator for 8 days. Should I give them to my hen to hatch? The eggs are all fertile and moving inside.
If I should how would I do this. Do I just put them under her? Would she be able to handle 12 eggs? She is a beast at the moment! I would differently have to wear gloves. Do I bring her inside or let her stay in the coop with the eggs? It is still getting down to the 30's at night here. I have gone out and checked on her several times today and I have not seen her off the nest. Will she go to the food and water or should I bring it to her?
Thank you so much. Wendi

 

[JerseyGiantfolk]

Hmm I haven't tried that yet, but when you candle eggs, you sometimes want to do it at night, because the broody won't be attacking as hard. I personally think I'd let a broody take care of chicks, just because it takes time for the chicks inside, when broody momma can do it herself. I'd also like to see what others think, but I don't know if i'd take the eggs out of the brooder.

 

[Becci]

Wait 48 hours or so before putting eggs underneath a so called 'broody'. I couldn't tell you how many eggs I've lost due to 'broodies' deciding that they don't wanna do the job. Wear a sweatshirt and gloves if you wish, and sneak them under her at night to reduce stress. 12 eggs would be pushing it, but if she can set on all of them, go for it! Alot of people separate their hens when they're setting on eggs, but it's up to you. You will however have to separate or block off part of the coop when the babies hatch. If she doesn't get up herself, push her off the nest once a day up until the last couple days of incubation.

Good luck!

 

[PtitePouleRouge]

Second the idea of waiting a few days at least to test your broody's resolve.

Don't worry about her food and water intake, as long as they are available. She knows what to do. A broody all but quits eating as far as I can tell while setting, after all, she is hardly moving.

Any switching of eggs or moving of nests should be done at night in the dark. If she can't see she cannot abandon the nest right away even if she wanted to, and by morning she will have adjusted to the changes. Her nest would ideally be located on ground level rather than in an elevated nest box, which a chick could fall out of, not be able to get back and either chill or be eaten by the other chickens. I keep new chicks and their mother isolated for at least a week in a dog crate inside the coop, while the chicks figure out which way is up and where safety is to be found (under mom). I think it is important for the flock to be able to hear the new family, to become accustomed to them, then when they are introduced they won't be complete strangers. After I introduce them to the flock I leave the crate with the door propped open narrowly so only the chicks can get in so they can have a safe place to go and where I put their chick starter feed and smaller waterer. Otherwise the hens gobble the starter up like it's candy.

I've had success with tricking a broody into mothering hatchery chicks. I gave her some hardboiled eggs to set on to keep her in the mood for a couple weeks until the chicks arrived. Then I made the switch at night. It worked very well! The chicks, despite having hatched in an incubator some days before and never having had a mother, knew exactly what to do as I set them down in front of her, and burrowed under her belly. It is well worth whatever effort to get a hen to mother the chicks. Less trouble for you and the chicks will grow up savvier.

 

[UrbanFarmerGreg]

I have a question about moving my broody hen... she is with 2 other hens and a roo, I have noticed that over the past 2 days that she has less eggs under her and that the other hens have ate the missing eggs (started with 6 now 3). Would it be ok to move her out of the coop and into a dog crate that is in our wood shed? Since I never really planned to have a broody hen sit on eggs, is it possible to make her a better nest? right now she is just burrowed into the wood chips on the floor...

 

[stargazerlabs]

Thank you all so much. She is still sitting in the nest box. I think I will hard boil a few eggs and let her sit on those for a while. I did move her yesterday and she did go outside, but ended up right back on the nest box. When I do give her the real eggs, I think it would be best if I only gave her 4 or 5 to start with.
I will let all of you know what happens. Thank you all so much for all of the great advice.

 

[stargazerlabs]

Okay I have put golf balls under her. she has been sitting on them and not leaving the nestbox. I am only keeping 4 chicks from the 12 I am hatching. When they hatch do I remove the golf balls and slip the chicks under at the same time?

 

[PtitePouleRouge]

Okay I have put golf balls under her. she has been sitting on them and not leaving the nestbox. I am only keeping 4 chicks from the 12 I am hatching. When they hatch do I remove the golf balls and slip the chicks under at the same time?

That is what worked for me. In the dark though. It's possible the dark isn't necessary but I haven't tried this in daylight so couldn't guarantee what would happen. Just reach under and take all the "eggs" and then put the chicks in one by one. I actually just had to put them just next to her breast and they instinctually wiggled under like little heat-seeking missiles. If the broody is really pecking at you make sure to protect the chicks with your hand until they are safe underneath her, so she doesn't peck them accidentally. Also is your nest box on the ground? As soon as it gets light they will start exploring and fall out if the box is off the ground.

I wish you luck! Report back and tell us how it goes!

 

[PtitePouleRouge]

I have a question about moving my broody hen... she is with 2 other hens and a roo, I have noticed that over the past 2 days that she has less eggs under her and that the other hens have ate the missing eggs (started with 6 now 3). Would it be ok to move her out of the coop and into a dog crate that is in our wood shed? Since I never really planned to have a broody hen sit on eggs, is it possible to make her a better nest? right now she is just burrowed into the wood chips on the floor...

It should be fine to move her to a better location. I've used a dog crate before for this purpose as well. Just make sure she has food and water in there, though she won't be eating much until hatch. When you shape the new nest, make it a bit bigger than you'd think and cup-shaped so the eggs can't roll away from her. When I move a broody to a new nest I do things in this order:
-take the eggs out of the old nest and put them someplace safe for the moment, otherwise the broody may break them in her struggle not to be removed
-move the broody to the new nest
-slip the eggs under her

Luck to you!

 

[stargazerlabs]

That is what worked for me. In the dark though. It's possible the dark isn't necessary but I haven't tried this in daylight so couldn't guarantee what would happen. Just reach under and take all the "eggs" and then put the chicks in one by one. I actually just had to put them just next to her breast and they instinctually wiggled under like little heat-seeking missiles. If the broody is really pecking at you make sure to protect the chicks with your hand until they are safe underneath her, so she doesn't peck them accidentally. Also is your nest box on the ground? As soon as it gets light they will start exploring and fall out if the box is off the ground.

I wish you luck! Report back and tell us how it goes!

Thank you so much. My eggs are set to hatch on the 11th. A friend of mine is taking 8 of the 12. I am keeping 4. I plan to put the 4 under her soon after. Should I wait a day or two or should I put them under her the night they hatch and are dried right from the incubator?