Broody hen

[MGG]

Thanks, that is what I thought but I wanted to confirm it.

No problem. Let us know how it does please!

 

[MGG]

Hi, I am new to this forum and seems like a good thread to join, sorry if I am being unintentionally rude. I have 6 hens, 3 feed store layers from last year and 3 older retirees from a local organic farm. 1 of each were acting a bit broody (sleeping on the eggs overnight and pecking when I wanted to take eggs, sitting on the nest for part of the day) and I want to hatch some chicks, so I bought a young Buff Orpington rooster from a friend. that was a week ago, and he has been mating for the last few days. they have 3 egg boxes and the girls have also made a big nest in a corner of the coop, where they have collected eggs for the last 3 days. this morning, nobody was sitting on the bigger group of eggs and they didn't feel warm to touch. should I leave them alone or take them out until someone is sitting more consistently? what is a normal pattern for a broody hen? I have hatched out previously but it was a while ago and I already had a rooster with them when they went broody.
thanks for any advice! Rachel

Welcome to BYC!!!
You might want to make a separate thread in this forum https://www.backyardchickens.com/forums/incubating-hatching-eggs.5/
So as not to sidetrack this one.

 

[sassychickens76]

No problem. Let us know how it does please!

I will! This is such an exciting experience!

 

[sassychickens76]

Day 7! We are 1/3 of the way through! I'll post candling results on day 10. Have a good weekend!

 

[MGG]

Day 7! We are 1/3 of the way through! I'll post candling results on day 10. Have a good weekend!

Yay!!!! You have a good weekend too!

 

[sassychickens76]

Quick question, the hen and rooster of these chicks are both black. Out of the batch of chicks I bought, I had a frizzle rooster but we had to sell him. Is there a chance these chicks could be a different color or be frizzle?

 

[aart]

I had a frizzle rooster but we had to sell him. Is there a chance these chicks could be a different color or be frizzle?

How long has he been gone?
3-4 weeks and it's very doubtful he's the daddy.

 

[sassychickens76]

The frizzle is definitely not the dad, we sold him last year. It is possible that my rooster or hen has the same parents as him, so could any of my chicks possibly have the frizzle gene? I would love to have a frizzle hen.

 

[sassychickens76]

Pretty sure another hen is broody, that would be 2 out of 3. She may have just been laying but she was flattened and yelled at me when I touched her. We made a makeshift nest box out of a milk crate and put hay in it for my 3rd hen to lay in since I only have 2 nesting boxes. I will let her brood, but this time I am saving up 5 eggs to put under her. I am not messing with them, and I will see who has a better hatch rate. We are buying a single nesting box so our 3rd hen has a spot to lay.

 

[bobbi-j]

I hope you’re planning on building a bigger space if you plan on keeping any chicks, and have a plan for the males.