Broody hen

[aberfitch]

I have a hen that is laying eggs and she is about to get broody. she has laid about 6 eggs already. Now I have some eggs in the incubator also. I want to wait untill the eggs hatch and slip the babies under her for her to brood. Will she still accept them if she has been sitting on the eggs for only about a week. Does she have a sense of time and say its not time yet to have babies and ignore them or will she just get up and leave the eggs?

 

[pettpaintings]

Having read similar stuff, I think you need her to have been sitting for a bit longer

but I'm sure one of the experts on here will know the right answer

 

[horsechick]

And if she has chicks under her won't she leave the eggs she's sitting on?
I've heard that she will.

That if she had eggs hatching at different times, to take the chicks and wait for all to hatch and give back or she would leave some eggs not hatched.

Anyone?

Thanks too

Angela