Broody Hen Thread!

[sniffylemur507]

how many days does it take to hatch chicks?

 

[MrsMommaJones]

21 days

 

[sniffylemur507]

and is it possible to just buy fertile eggs from a chicken/pet store and put them under a broody hen and hatch them?

 

[fisherlady]

I have a question one of my bcm just started to set two days ago this is it I have some eggs in the incubator one more week to hatch. can I put this eggs under the hen to finish the hatch?? she is seating on no eggs just a golf ball will she finish hatching the eggs one week left.

Although you technically could give her the eggs and she would hatch them it may be a problematic experience.... Hens seem to go through 'phases' while setting and it seems to average at least 10 days or so before they transition from general 'setting mode' to 'hatching mode'.

I have had an experienced hen do OK with eggs after about 12 days, but also had an experienced hen (Rosie) who I gave eggs to (hatching on day 10 of her brood) who seemed very confused about the eggs hatching and she was so determined to set tight on the eggs she ended up smothering 2 chicks the day they hatched, when this happened the rest of her eggs were transferred over to another hen. Rosie had already had a good hatch of 6/6 earlier in year, so I know she is a good mother. I gave Rosie another batch of started eggs and she happily sat another 2 weeks and when this batch hatched (on day 25 or so of her brood) she was careful and did not loose any chicks. So though some experienced hens can take chicks hatching at almost any time, others seem to need that 2 weeks of so of setting to get ready for the hatching mode.

Another hen I gave eggs to which hatched on day 11 of her brood did better than Rosie and didn't smother any trying to set tight on the nest, but she did about need to be pried off of the nest after the hatch to start caring for the chicks, after a day or two she was doing great, but I did notice the transition problem a bit with her also.

I won't say it can't be done, or shouldn't be done, I am just trying to provide some honest experience to show there may be problems encountered that you should watch for. Hopefully no problems will happen, but caution should be used.

 

[sniffylemur507]

but what about my question?

 

[Rhandi74]

and is it possible to just buy fertile eggs from a chicken/pet store and put them under a broody hen and hatch them?

I bought hatching eggs for my hen locally. She is sitting on a dozen Indian runner duck eggs. You can also have them shipped but the hatching rate is usually not as high. I do not think stores sell them, I found mine on craigslist from a farm that's flock was NPIP certified.

 

[sniffylemur507]

so it works?

 

[MrsMommaJones]

yes. I have not had the chance to do it yet but I hear the hatch rate drops dramatically when they are shipped.

 

[sniffylemur507]

ok

 

[MrsMommaJones]

Where are you from?