Broody or not ???

[chickens really]

3 of the eggs in the incubator are hers!! Good idea something to think about.

It doesn't matter who's eggs they are..She will hatch and raise them as her own. How many eggs in total? I generally only give a first time Hen 8 eggs.

 

[RoosterML]

I have 27 in the bator

 

[chickens really]

I have 27 in the bator

Cool..you could give her 12 and if she gets overwhelmed once hatched then just leave her a few chicks to raise. I do this.

 

[aart]

Why take the eggs from under her?

Because you want to be sure she's broody and you don't want a staggered hatch.

When I have a broody I wait until she's been in the nest most the day and all night for 2-3 days...along with those other signs I posted.

Then I put her in the broody enclosure with fake eggs in the floor nest, she won't like being moved, but if she is truly good and broody she will settle onto the new nest within a half a day.
Then I give her fresh fertile eggs and mark the calendar.

I like them separated by wire from the flock, it's just easier all around.
No having to mark eggs and remove any additions daily, no taking up a laying nest, no going back to the wrong nest after the daily constitutional.

You might want to handle it differently...lots of ways to manage a broody:
http://www.backyardchickens.com/t/496101/broody-hen-thread

 

[chickens really]

I use a crate and set up the nest and put in the eggs. The Hens always settles down on the nest. I just moved my Silkie Broody into my garage Brooder to hatch. She is due today, tomorrow and possibly Saturday..

 

[RoosterML]

Then I put her in the broody enclosure with fake eggs in the floor nest, she won't like being moved, but if she is truly good and broody she will settle onto the new nest within a half a day.

How big for broody enclosure? Have any pictures of it? I like the idea of the controled hatch date by removing eggs and adding all at once. You say you do not need to remove new eggs daily. At what point does she stop laying new eggs and just kick back and sit to hatch the ones she has? Rough idea.

 

[aart]

How big for broody enclosure? Have any pictures of it? I like the idea of the controled hatch date by removing eggs and adding all at once. You say you do not need to remove new eggs daily. At what point does she stop laying new eggs and just kick back and sit to hatch the ones she has? Rough idea.

When a hen goes broody she's already stopped laying(usually).
I don't know about letting a bird accumulate a clutch and then setting.
The removing 'new eggs daily' are eggs from other hens when you allow the broody to set with the flock having access to her nest.

My brooding section of the coop is 4x6, I planned this to brood and integrate incubated or purchased chicks and have used it for 2 broody hatches(see below), but you could get away with less space. Have seen many use a large dog crate. You need room for the nest, of course, also room for feed/water and for her to get up and 'stretch her legs' .....and room to drop the huge nasty broody poops without soiling the nest or feed/water.

 

[chickens really]

My silkie in her brooder. Enough room to feed and water chicks till I introduce to flock.

 

[RoosterML]

Now I am trying to figure out if I want to make a pen inside here and move the bust bath box to a different location.

Or make it still inside the barn but I separate area here. They can still see each other.

The flock is just behind the sink in this photo.

 

[chickens really]

Now I am trying to figure out if I want to make a pen inside here and move the bust bath box to a different location.
View attachment 1666342
Or make it still inside the barn but I separate area here. They can still see each other.
View attachment 1666344
The flock is just behind the sink in this photo.

Don't over think it..As long as she is content and the Chicks are warm once they follow Momma around to forage it's going to work. Make sure Chicks can't get separated from her is a big thing.