Broody Questions

[chickeneer45]

Hi my chicken has started going broody for the first time ever for me and really don't know much about it so I am just trying to get all the information that I can. First off, how many eggs should the broody hen sit on on average? Also, do you need to isolate the broody hen at any time? Do I need to isolate her once her eggs hatch? Are roosters generally aggressive against baby chicks/broody hens? And I'll let ya'll know if I think of anymore questions. Thanks so much.

 

[Bush Chickens]

My first broody too,it's basically however many eggs she's happy to.set on,so long as she can keep them all warm. I'll be watching this thread for the other answers

 

[chickeneer45]

Okay thank you. The only reason I ask how many eggs is because I feel like I heard somewhere that there shouldnt be more than six eggs under the hen so that she can take care of them all.

 

[Bush Chickens]

Oh no!that's not right! My neighbors BANTAM (yeah!tiny chicken!) Hatched 11!

 

[chickeneer45]

Thats great!

 

[chickeneer45]

I'm so excited! Tomorrow Im going to try and find out if the eggs are fertile

 

[chickeneer45]

Okay so three more questions: first, i have no idea how many eggs my chicken is sitting on and id really like to know can i remove her for just a few seconds to check? Or is that offlimits? Also, what are the chances my eggs are fertile if there are four roosters and three hens? Is there anyway they can be not fertile? Ive seen this broody hen being mounted in the past week... Also, if the eggs were not being laid on for a day or two will they never hatch? Thanks so much any answers would be greatly appreciated!!

 

[chickeneer45]

Another question: is there anything special i should be feeding my broody hen?

 

[Bush Chickens]

you can remove her for a short while,that should be ok,and depends,was she brooding on them for a while,THEN they werent set on,or she just didnt set before that?

 

[Bush Chickens]

oh,and you can slowly switch her to chick food before they hatch because the chicks cant eat layer feed,thats very bad