Broody Hen

[Erika Koehn]

I have a broody hen and she is now sitting on two other hens eggs ....my question: r those eggs fertile and will she lay some of her own?

 

[DobieLover]

I have a broody hen and she is now sitting on two other hens eggs ....my question: r those eggs fertile and will she lay some of her own?

Do you have a rooster?

 

[Erika Koehn]

Do you have a rooster?

Yes

 

[Wolfefarmyard]

Yes

Then there’s a good chance that they’re fertile. Candle them in a few days to see if they’re developing.

 

[Alaskan]

I have a broody hen and she is now sitting on two other hens eggs ....my question: r those eggs fertile and will she lay some of her own?

You will want to mark the eggs that she is sitting on.

I find I always have to use a sharpie (pencil wears off)

If she is in a flock other hens will keep trying to add eggs to her nest. This results in different hatch dates!

Which ..... is a problem as the hen will either get off the nest to take the first chicks that hatch to food and water and the rest of the eggs die.... .. or she stays on the unhatched eggs waiting for them all to hatch.... and the chicks that hatched first are not taken to food and water and so die....

So.... mark the eggs, check every day and take out any eggs that have been added.

And... once she is firmly broody (verses only randomly sitting on the nest) she will stop laying.

 

[Erika Koehn]

Thanks!i actually put an old sweet potato box in front of the nesting box so the other hens won't push her off because that has already happened

 

[Wolfefarmyard]

Thanks!i actually put an old sweet potato box in front of the nesting box so the other hens won't push her off because that has already happened

Make sure she access to fresh food and water though.

 

[Erika Koehn]

You will want to mark the eggs that she is sitting on.

I find I always have to use a sharpie (pencil wears off)

If she is in a flock other hens will keep trying to add eggs to her nest. This results in different hatch dates!

Which ..... is a problem as the hen will either get off the nest to take the first chicks that hatch to food and water and the rest of the eggs die.... .. or she stays on the unhatched eggs waiting for them all to hatch.... and the chicks that hatched first are not taken to food and water and so die....

So.... mark the eggs, check every day and take out any eggs that have been added.

And... once she is firmly broody (verses only randomly sitting on the nest) she will stop laying.

How long will it take for her to b firmly broody?

 

[Alaskan]

How long will it take for her to b firmly broody?

That completely depends on the hen.



No way to know ahead of time.

 

[Erika Koehn]

That completely depends on the hen.



No way to know ahead of time.

O ok thanks.... She got off of her eggs today so I guess we'll wait and see what happens