Broody Hen Thread!

[mebuff daisy]

How many eggs should a first timer hatch ?

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

How many eggs should a first timer hatch ?

I have always set 1 dozen or less. My most recent broody is a first timer and I only gave her 5 because that was how many eggs I could spare and at the moment that is the number of birds I want to take the chance of ending up adding to the flock (that is something to consider, btw, how many chicks can you/do you want to add to your flock?).

 

[SD Bird Lady]

I usually give mine around half a dozen. If you live in an area where it will soon be winter, take into account how many chicks she will be able to cover in the cold.

 

[mebuff daisy]

Thanks

 

[PD-Riverman]

Still only 2 of Rhonda's chicks have hatched. 8 eggs with no pipping.

I sure Hope they Hatch for you!! That poor hen has set there for 3 weeks----she deserves for every egg to hatch!!

I want to add this if I may---I know I preach this but what I am about to say came from personal experience. If you Lift Or even tilt to oneside the broody hen, In "MY" area it affects the hatch rate. My hens are not bothered, not picked up, not looked under after day 18 until she comes off the nest. Out of 32 broody hens that were set this season 30 of them hatched 99+% of the fertile eggs under them. The other 2 are due the 20th. BUT as I have said before, You all own your chickens, and I own mine------you can raise yours any way you want. I want my hen to have the best hatch she can have so I do everything "I" can to make this possible. Good Luck!!

 

[PD-Riverman]

How many eggs should a first timer hatch ?

I prep her nest/hay/bedding so it is concaved. I then put every how many eggs in the nest I feel she can cover good----smaller hens less bigger hens more. My biggest hens get 12 to 14, my game bantam get 7/8 regular chicken eggs around 10/12 bantam eggs.

 

[16 paws]

Thanks for the great pictures Fisherlady. I love your set-up. I do something very similar to you in my coop.
Happy chickens all...
Marie

 

[omilona]

The first one I found was a text book picture of how an egg should look, but no chick in sight. At that point she was sitting on two eggs still. I then shut her in so no one could get in or out.Then I came back 2 hours later. There was a fully hatched chick which was dead in the nest and another pipping the egg. In the morning there were 3 empty eggs, the dead chick was gone and the one that had been hatching was gone. I think it's a done deal. I was given her by a friend who knew I deeply wanted a silkie. The friend of his who gave it to be passed on said 'She just hatched chicks a little while ago and is now done with them'. I assumed that ment she was done raising them, not done eating them!!!

 

[calliescluckers]

I have a americauna x silkie hen that just started laying:.. Only lasted about 10 days then went broody. After a couple weeks I thought I would stick a couple eggs from a friend under her. Sure enough, 21 days later we got two Banty babies! They are doing well. We thought of separating as our 5 sex links are in the same coop... But decided to mess with them as little as possible. She is still stealing other hen's eggs and sitting on them. Should I get more fertile eggs? How long will she stay broody for?

 

[PD-Riverman]

I have a americauna x silkie hen that just started laying:.. Only lasted about 10 days then went broody. After a couple weeks I thought I would stick a couple eggs from a friend under her. Sure enough, 21 days later we got two Banty babies! They are doing well. We thought of separating as our 5 sex links are in the same coop... But decided to mess with them as little as possible. She is still stealing other hen's eggs and sitting on them. Should I get more fertile eggs? How long will she stay broody for?

Has she still got her 2 babies?