broody hen

[Gagas chickens]

i have a broody hen. just got fert eggs from a farm is 9 too many for her to sit on? and do i have rotate then or will she do it?
Thanks

 

[chickenobsessed]

nope my hen is sitting on 14 she was on 15 until a roo broke one so we had to move so she is sitting on 14 eggs, so you will be fine

 

[Ridgerunner]

Hens and eggs come n different sizes, bantam to full sized. A bantam might have trouble setting on 4 full sized eggs, while a full sized hen can cover a whole lot more.

If the eggs are about the size the hen would normally lay, she should easily cover a dozen. I can go Chickenobseesed a little better. I saw one full sized hen cover and get a good hatch on 18 of her own eggs. That was a hidden nest. If your broody is full sized and the eggs match her, 9 should be no problem at all.

You do not have to turn them. That's the hen's job.

 

[helomech]

I had a broody hen that I left in the chicken coupe. When I finally went to move her she was sitting on 36 eggs. Now there is no way she could have hatched that many, but most of the fit under her. Could only see a few on the sides.

 

[chickenobsessed]

I had a broody hen that I left in the chicken coupe. When I finally went to move her she was sitting on 36 eggs. Now there is no way she could have hatched that many, but most of the fit under her. Could only see a few on the sides.

oh my goodness that is a lot of eggs

 

[triplepurpose]

I've heard that if you have too many for the hen to adequately keep warm at once, then they can all be compromised because each egg will get rotated out at some point during the hatch. After looking around for a few different figures, I played it safe and went with 12 eggs for one hen as a rule of thumb (regular size brown eggs, regular size large hen). I had 11 hatch both times. I suppose it pays not to get too greedy...

As for turning and such, you don't have to do a thing. It's hands-off once they start incubating--another reason I love doing it this way. No worrying about temp or humidity or turning or not turning--the hen does it all, and much better than I ever could with even the best incubator set up. Ah, nature's perfection...

 

[Gagas chickens]

i want all mine broody i think there is nothing cuter than a miss sitting on her joys

 

[Gagas chickens]

i want all mine broody i think there is nothing cuter than a miss sitting on her joys

oh my goodness that is a lot of eggs

Jealous Grr

 

[chickenobsessed]

Jealous Grr
im not jealous but thats a lot of eggs

 

[Gagas chickens]

Im sure the other house hold members would be impressed. it Started with 2 hens.
Now ducks and hens and rooster.