Broody hen on eggs this time of year?

[chicmom]

Hello All!

I live in Ohio, and I have a very broody silkie. I gave her two fertile eggs to sit on two weeks ago. (I have 5 other eggs in an incubator as well). She wanted to hatch something so bad! So I gave her the eggs. It was in the 80s and 90s but the weather is getting cooler. Can a hen successfully hatch and care for chicks in the cooler, fall weather? Or should I take her eggs and put them in the incubator? I'd like to see her raise them. She's been very very faithful to her little eggs. She's got two weeks to go.

 

[Rickba]

Let nature take it's course. Mommy hen will do just fine keeping her chicks warm and fed.

 

[chicmom]

Let nature take it's course. Mommy hen will do just fine keeping her chicks warm and fed.

Oh that's just what I wanted to hear! Thank you!

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

Let nature take it's course. Mommy hen will do just fine keeping her chicks warm and fed.

X2, I've had many broody hatches this time of year and later

 

[chicmom]

X2, I've had many broody hatches this time of year and later

I'm so glad!

 

[bobbi-j]

Did you give her duck eggs? If you gave her chicken eggs and she's already been on them, she only has one week to go. She can keep them plenty warm when they hatch - much better and more regulated than you can in a brooder.

 

[Twinsnchickens]

Happy to see I'm not the only one. I just ordered eggs off of ebay because my silkie has been broody and setting for a week on ceramic eggs. I've never hatched babies under a broody or ever, hopefully she does a good job.

 

[bobbi-j]

Happy to see I'm not the only one. I just ordered eggs off of ebay because my silkie has been broody and setting for a week on ceramic eggs. I've never hatched babies under a broody or ever, hopefully she does a good job.

Chickens have been reproducing for centuries without human intervention. If they weren't capable, they'd have become extinct long ago.

 

[Twinsnchickens]

Chickens have been reproducing for centuries without human intervention. If they weren't capable, they'd have become extinct long ago.

Obviously, but not always is a mother a good mother. I bred holland lops and I've been through quite a few who have killed or bit off limbs upon birth because they didn't know what they were doing, or mothers who just wanted nothing to do with their babies.

So with chickens (which are new to me) actually having to set, theres worry she'll give up and change her mind.

 

[bobbi-j]

True.