Can I hatch eggs from 11 month old hens or will there be problems.

[Danny188]

I am giving two eggs to my broody buff Orpington hen to hatch out figuring that only one will hatch. Will I have problems with development issues with the eggs being from 11 month old hens? Yes I have a rooster and another question with that I have 21 hens and one rooster so are all the hens fertilized. And should I give her more than two eggs, I only want one chick but im fine with getting two so how many eggs should I give her and im starting this today so they will all be the same "age" eggs.

 

[Danny188]

Should I give her three just to insure I get at least one chick, and what should I look for in the eggs that I should give her? Im new to this so any tips are appreciated, she has been sitting on two golf balls for 2 days will that affect anything. Should i leave them in or tale them out? Can I mark the eggs with sharpe so I know that they are the right ones?

 

[MGG]

I would let her hatch at least 2 chicks so that you have a buddy for your chick. Chicks do best if raised with a sibling. I have hatched from younger hens so I would say it's fine. I would crack open a few eggs and see if they're fertile. That's a lot of hens for one rooster to breed. I would be concerned about fertility. I would only set eggs from his "favorite" hens, or one's you know he's bred with in the last week. I would recommend getting some store bought infertile eggs, let her sit on them for 21 days, and then go buy a couple sexed pullets from a feed store. You can put them under her at night and remove the infertile eggs. She will think they're her's and should accept them. Then you can get a fun breed, or what gender and how many you want, and you can still let your hen feel important and let her raise them.

 

[Danny188]

I would let her hatch at least 2 chicks so that you have a buddy for your chick. Chicks do best if raised with a sibling. I have hatched from younger hens so I would say it's fine. I would crack open a few eggs and see if they're fertile. That's a lot of hens for one rooster to breed. I would be concerned about fertility. I would only set eggs from his "favorite" hens, or one's you know he's bred with in the last week. I would recommend getting some store bought infertile eggs, let her sit on them for 21 days, and then go buy a couple sexed pullets from a feed store. You can put them under her at night and remove the infertile eggs. She will think they're her's and should accept them. Then you can get a fun breed, or what gender and how many you want, and you can still let your hen feel important and let her raise them.

Thanks foe the help I am going to give her 3 eggs and see if it works.