Broody hens

[Bitntwice]

First time chicken mama. I have had my 7 hens and 1 rooster for a year now. Unfortunately, over the fall not knowing any better, I removed eggs from one of my girls because I thought she gave up on sitting on them. Curious...I cracked the 3 eggs to find two had babies in them... unfortunately they died. Now I have two of my girls that are now broody...no clue how many eggs. I will leave them alone this time!

My question is...when they hatch will the babies survive with the other hens and my rooster and having to go down the ladder to get out of the hen house?

Help! I am nervous and do not know what to do.

Thank you

 

[ChickenCanoe]

You have to do one thing first. Mark all the eggs under them now so if other hens lay eggs in the same nests so you can continually remove those volunteers to prevent a staggered hatch which will inevitably lead to dead embryos when the hen leaves unhatched eggs to care for chicks.
There is no concern about the rooster or other hens after hatch. The broodies will protect the chicks from all comers and in short order the chicks will be accepted as flock members.
The problem may be the ladder. The chicks will have no problem hopping out when the hen calls them out but may not be able to negotiate a ladder to get back in the coop at night no matter how much the mom encourages them.
Can you post a picture of the ladder?

 

[Bitntwice]

I hope I attached the picture correctly. What can I mark the eggs with that is safe? Thank you so much for your help!

 

[ChickenCanoe]

If they are light or white eggs you can use a lead pencil. If they are very dark eggs like mine, you'll need a black permanent marker. Sometimes when the hens come off the nest for their daily foray, you only have a few minutes and if you can't readily see the markings, mistakes can be made. I draw a ring around the entire egg so no matter how it is laying in the nest I can easily discern which are the incubated eggs and which are the fresh eggs.

 

[Bitntwice]

If they are light or white eggs you can use a lead pencil. If they are very dark eggs like mine, you'll need a black permanent marker. Sometimes when the hens come off the nest for their daily foray, you only have a few minutes and if you can't readily see the markings, mistakes can be made. I draw a ring around the entire egg so no matter how it is laying in the nest I can easily discern which are the incubated eggs and which are the fresh eggs.

 

[Bitntwice]

If they are light or white eggs you can use a lead pencil. If they are very dark eggs like mine, you'll need a black permanent marker. Sometimes when the hens come off the nest for their daily foray, you only have a few minutes and if you can't readily see the markings, mistakes can be made. I draw a ring around the entire egg so no matter how it is laying in the nest I can easily discern which are the incubated eggs and which are the fresh eggs.

Thank you! Here is a picture of my hen house. Can I pull the eggs from under her and Mark them and put back?

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Some people can do that if they have lap pets but my chickens are too skittish and I freak them out when I disturb them while setting.
I always wait till the hen comes off the nest. Till they are all marked, I carry a majic marker with me so I don't have to run back to the house.
The less a setting hen is disturbed, the better the incubation goes.