Broody hen info please

[efanie]

I have 2 hen that are broody I think they have only left the lay boxes to eat and drink I think They are always in there when I go out the check on then 4-5 times a day. So now for my question can I move them some were and have them hatch out baby chick? I have 2 roosters in with my hens how do I k ow what eggs to put under the hen? Can I set 2 or 3 hens in the same place or do they have to be all alone sorry for all the questions I an new at this?

 

[ChickenLove6]

Hi,
You can move the hens to another house to hatch baby chicks, but if you put all the hens together there may be a fight between them as they get very protective over the eggs/chicks, also the hens might steal eachothers eggs, so it would be better having them in separate houses.
With the eggs you collect from the hen who is mating with the rooster, put them all under the broody hens, then about 5 days later Take a flashlight and hold it up to the eggs, if you see a dark spot its fertilized.
Hope this helped

 

[mstricer]

I would leave them be. It is also not nessary to check on them that often. They should know what to do, if they don't you can give the eggs to another hen. I leave my girls alone. They hatch out in the coop with 15 hens and 2 roosters. With no problems. The only time I mess with my broodys is is to check for eggs from the other hens. I tried moving one of my girls to a brooder house and she kept going back to the coop, leaving her eggs behind. The last time I just left her because she was so close to hatching, her eggs were cold when I gave them back to her, this morning got up and went to feed and there she was with all 4 hatched. I moved her to a dog kennel with babies. She will stay there for a couple days, then I will let her out so she can spread her wings and find a nesting box.

 

[efanie]

Thank you I think I might leave them be. As I do not have my brooder house up and ready yet. How many egg are a good number to have under one hen?

 

[ChickenLove6]

Hi,
How big is the hen and what breed is she, if she's a bantam then she can hold 6 eggs. If she's a large fowl then she can hold between 8-12 eggs.

 

[efanie]

she is a larger hen there was 4 eggs under her last night I will add 4-6 more tonight. I hope this works out I will take a picture tonight and add so you all can see what i am doing.

 

[ChickenLove6]

Okay that's great, good-luck.

 

[ChickenLove6]

 

[mstricer]

They can hatch more then 12. Some of their hidden nest can have as first timermany as 24. I just set 12 bantam eggs under my Spitzenhauben, they are small type of chicken, I wanted to put more but, she is a

 

[ChickenLove6]

It really does depend on the size of the egg and hen. I have found that my hens are happier sitting on 12 eggs rather than anymore. My hens tend to get a little stressed, uncomfortable and paranoid if I put anymore than 12 under them. Also not as many chicks hatched when I put more eggs than 12 under her. But it does vary with the breed and sizes as I said