broody hen

[ericmcginn5]

I have a hen going broody she has 16 eggs under her will she flip them or should I

 

[abserbean]

Best part of hatching with a broody, you don't really have to do anything! Mom will take care of the eggs, just make sure she has access to food and water and that no other hen can get in the nest with her to lay. Good luck! I love hatching out with a broody.

 

[ericmcginn5]

Ok ty she wont let any other hen near.anyways

 

[AmericanMom]

She will not only take care of those eggs, turning them as she needs to but to boot, once they hatch she will take total care of the chicks, all you have to do is make sure she has access to feed and water for them. She will protect them from other chickens and she will teach them to be chickens... I have incubated eggs and raised chicks, I would much rather let a broody do the work, so far this year I have had 3 separate hatches under a broody... Love it!

Just a word of warning... Leave her alone, she had those eggs situated under her where she needs them to be, if your constantly taking her off to "check the eggs" and putting her back she could crush the eggs, also.. When hatch day arrives, don't keep trying to peek under her, I noticed with my last broody she shuffles the hatching eggs around, putting the eggs that are zipping up front, if you lift her to take a peek you could crush the eggs when putting her back down.. My sister in law lifted her hen after one of the chicks hatched and when she placed the hen back she crushed and killed the chick.. She kept saying the hen killed it

You will see the final count when Momma takes the chicks off the nest, it is then if eggs are left that you can candle any remaining eggs for viability.
Just MHO

Good luck!

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

She will not only take care of those eggs, turning them as she needs to but to boot, once they hatch she will take total care of the chicks, all you have to do is make sure she has access to feed and water for them. She will protect them from other chickens and she will teach them to be chickens... I have incubated eggs and raised chicks, I would much rather let a broody do the work, so far this year I have had 3 separate hatches under a broody... Love it!

Just a word of warning... Leave her alone, she had those eggs situated under her where she needs them to be, if your constantly taking her off to "check the eggs" and putting her back she could crush the eggs, also.. When hatch day arrives, don't keep trying to peek under her, I noticed with my last broody she shuffles the hatching eggs around, putting the eggs that are zipping up front, if you lift her to take a peek you could crush the eggs when putting her back down.. My sister in law lifted her hen after one of the chicks hatched and when she placed the hen back she crushed and killed the chick.. She kept saying the hen killed it

You will see the final count when Momma takes the chicks off the nest, it is then if eggs are left that you can candle any remaining eggs for viability.
Just MHO

Good luck!

X2 - as hard as it can be for some (because it IS exciting), hands off is the way to go!

 

[donrae]

Ok ty she wont let any other hen near.anyways

I would suggest marking her eggs with a sharpie or something similar so you'll know if another hen does get in there and add an egg. I check under my broodies every other day or so and pull any unmarked eggs.

 

[AmericanMom]

I would suggest marking her eggs with a sharpie or something similar so you'll know if another hen does get in there and add an egg. I check under my broodies every other day or so and pull any unmarked eggs.

x2

 

[ericmcginn5]

Well bad news a snake ate 3 of the eggs but the others are there do you think the snake harmed the other eggs im keeping her locked upso a snake wont eatmore