Broody Hen Thread!

[Jharper]

Lol.....you better get a bigger place!

I have a 18x24 foot pen 6ft tall and only 4 laying hens a rooster and an OEGB hen. I also have my Cochin who is sitting on 8 of her own eggs in another coop with a silkie hen and 3 chicks I had ordered and a mystery bantam and another mystery bantam I got at an auction Saturday.

 

[Jharper]

She is in the background sitting firmly on her clutch of 8 eggs.

 

[offgridhermit]

if a hen is sitting on rotten, non fertilized eggs will she push them out of the nest? I have a broody hen and in the last week have found 2 eggs on the ground. I cracked them open and they were just rotten eggs. I hope at least 1 of the eggs she is sitting on turns out to be a new chick.

 

[el pollo rey]

if a hen is sitting on rotten, non fertilized eggs will she push them out of the nest? I have a broody hen and in the last week have found 2 eggs on the ground. I cracked them open and they were just rotten eggs. I hope at least 1 of the eggs she is sitting on turns out to be a new chick.

. No not always a birds sense of smell is very poor she can hear the chicks in the eggs as they slosh around and can feel the chill on her plucked bare breast if she thinks she has one out it goes but 90% of the time they will stay after she abandons the nest

 

[Ginger Assassin]

Hi I'm only 13 and looking forward on having chickens when I grow up.I was wondering if I have a rooster and a hen but the hen is not going broody will I still have fertile eggs for the incubator. If u can reply I would be grateful.

Thanks

 

[Jharper]

Hi I'm only 13 and looking forward on having chickens when I grow up.I was wondering if I have a rooster and a hen but the hen is not going broody will I still have fertile eggs for the incubator. If u can reply I would be grateful.

Thanks

Of course. Only if the rooster is doing his job properly.

 

[Ginger Assassin]

Thanks

 

[Ginger Assassin]

Also how many medium sized eggs can one silkie lay on?

 

[Jharper]

Also how many medium sized eggs can one silkie lay on?

4-5 comfortably for the best hatch rate, too.

 

[Ginger Assassin]

Well that is good and do silkies go broody at random intervals or do they have a broody season?