broody hen

[jimz1]

I'm full of questions today! We've got ,what I think, is a broody hen. She finally found a nestbox. My question is, can a hen hatch eggs if she has been laying only about 3 weeks to a month? If so, would the chicks be ok? is there such a thing as a preemee chick? Earl is still hanging around her.

 

[SamuelMcF]

Yeah she could but they usually don't stick with it that young, at least in my experience. Is there a rooster around? Chicks can hatch early but not because of the mom being young. It would just mean too hot of a temperature. Which on a broody is not applicable.