Broody hen - how long can I give her eggs

[joebryant]

I have two Orpington hens that lay fertilized eggs. After two weeks, day-before-yesterday I finished gathering and putting two dozen eggs into the incubator and starting it. During that time, the last two days I had to take an egg out from under a freshly started broody hen. Starting today, I will let her keep the eggs she lays, and I will put the eggs from the other hen under her.
QUESTION: For how many days will it be safe to put/add eggs under her, i.e., when will she actually start incubating the eggs all together so that they will all hatch within a day or two of each other?

 

[Lollipop]

Joe, the easiest way to confirm that a hen is broody is to note that she stays on the nest at night and doesn`t roost. From that point she will not lay again until she is no longer broody. If you have a broody hen, you must use eggs from another source as you won`t get any more from her for a long while. Do not put eggs under her until you have a number you feel she can hatch and after you give them to her, do not add any more. All the eggs should be started at the same time. Here`s the best article I`ve seen on broodies. Hope your questions have been answered.......Pop

Broody Hens;

http://www.themodernhomestead.us/article/Broody-Hens-1.html

 

[joebryant]

Quote:
Thanks, she was on the nest instead of the roost last night, so I guess she won't be laying anymore. How many eggs can I put under an Orpington at the same time after I've collected them.

 

[Lollipop]

Depends on the size of the eggs. Orpi eggs, she should be able to cover at least 12. You`ll have to judge that yourself. Just don`t get greedy. Make sure she covers them real good. If there`s a chance one or two may stick out from under her, it could make for a bad hatch as most of them could get rotated out in the cold in 21 days. Good luck.......Pop