broody hens

[jc17]

i have eight RIR and one buff orpington. i was wondering if one hen is broody will she sit on all of the eggs? even other chickens? also..what is most likely to happen to the chicks when they hatch? will they be killed?

 

[sourland]

When a hen goes broody she will set on any eggs. Chicken hens are used to hatch the eggs of just about every breed of poultry. They do not identify eggs as 'their own'. Given enough space and a high enough ranking in the pecking order a hen can safely raise her chicks in a flock situation. If she is a low ranking hen or space is restricted, the chicks might be in danger.