Can I use my hens to sit on/hatch purchased, fertilised eggs?

[lozpearl]

Hi guys!

I'm relatively new to the poultry game, 10 months ago we started by buying 3 isa brown chicks and 2 call ducklings! I absolutely love having chickens and we're ready to expand our flock! After much research I've decided to go with Orpingtons, I love them and I think they'll suit us I wanted to buy 3 pullets and I'm currently on a waiting list but they cost a small fortune each! The more affordable option is to buy them as fertilised eggs except I'm not experienced with incubation and I don't have the equipment.

Silly question, but if I were to encourage my hens to become broody by leaving their eggs in their roosting boxes and if one of them started to sit, could I slip fertilised eggs in under them? Pardon my ignorance!

 

[ChickenCanoe]

It's actually a good question, not ignorant or silly at all.
If a hen starts setting, you can definitely put fertile eggs under her.
They're all individuals so anything can happen but as a general rule, egg breeds like ISA browns have had the desire to set bred out of them. I had a black leghorn go broody several times but that is very unusual.
The more broody prone breeds are silkies, cochins, brahmas, orps, aorps, araucanas, hollands, dorkings, games.
That said, I had one orp that went broody often, and her sister never did.

 

[lozpearl]

It's actually a good question, not ignorant or silly at all.
If a hen starts setting, you can definitely put fertile eggs under her.
They're all individuals so anything can happen but as a general rule, egg breeds like ISA browns have had the desire to set bred out of them. I had a black leghorn go broody several times but that is very unusual.
The more broody prone breeds are silkies, cochins, brahmas, orps, aorps, araucanas, hollands, dorkings, games.
That said, I had one orp that went broody often, and her sister never did.

Thanks for your reply! It makes perfect sense that ISA brown's wouldn't be broody, I didn't even think of that! Actually 2 of them are half Australorp, hopefully that works in my favour! Who knows, I'll definitely give it a go. I might leave their eggs for a few days in their nests and see if anyone sets. Thanks for the advice

 

[dheltzel]

Some chickens might seem expensive (especially compared to common breeds), but in the long run the amount you spend acquiring any animal is usually dwarfed by the amount you spend on them after you own them. There are exceptions to this ($2500 chickens or racehorses worth millions), but in general I believe you do your research and decide what you want, from what is available, and get it. If you can't afford the initial price, you probably won't be able to keep them adequately either. True also for kittens, puppies, reptiles, even tropical fish.

Jumping down off my soapbox . . .

Even though eggs seem cheaper, there is substantial risk there. Are you prepare to have the eggs fail to hatch altogether? How many times can you do that before it will no longer be cheaper ? Do you have a plan for the males that hatch? Buying eggs can be a very viable option, I sometimes sell eggs to families that want the experience of hatching under a hen that went broody. It's very rewarding, and will probably succeed, but not always. Broody hens can be fickle and just decide after a week or so they've had enough and leave the eggs. It's heartbreaking to find an abandoned nest full of cold, dead, but partially developed eggs. I've had broodies kill their chicks, or abandon them and let them die. These things happen and I just move on, but if it was someone's first time, with expensive eggs, it might be discouraging enough to give up altogether, and that would be a shame.

 

[lozpearl]

Some chickens might seem expensive (especially compared to common breeds), but in the long run the amount you spend acquiring any animal is usually dwarfed by the amount you spend on them after you own them. There are exceptions to this ($2500 chickens or racehorses worth millions), but in general I believe you do your research and decide what you want, from what is available, and get it. If you can't afford the initial price, you probably won't be able to keep them adequately either. True also for kittens, puppies, reptiles, even tropical fish.

Jumping down off my soapbox . . .

Even though eggs seem cheaper, there is substantial risk there. Are you prepare to have the eggs fail to hatch altogether? How many times can you do that before it will no longer be cheaper ? Do you have a plan for the males that hatch? Buying eggs can be a very viable option, I sometimes sell eggs to families that want the experience of hatching under a hen that went broody. It's very rewarding, and will probably succeed, but not always. Broody hens can be fickle and just decide after a week or so they've had enough and leave the eggs. It's heartbreaking to find an abandoned nest full of cold, dead, but partially developed eggs. I've had broodies kill their chicks, or abandon them and let them die. These things happen and I just move on, but if it was someone's first time, with expensive eggs, it might be discouraging enough to give up altogether, and that would be a shame.

Thanks for your response!

No, i'm more than familiar with the expenses of keeping animals as pets. I have other pets aside from chickens and I'm prepared for the costs of keeping chickens to more than double with the introduction of 3 new and larger chickens. The reason why I would consider acquiring them as fertilised eggs is not purely financially related, I'm also keen for the learning experience and the chance to hatch eggs! I'm aware that hatching is fraught with complications and I've been told by breeder's that it shouldn't be too difficult to rehome roosters of a heritage breed, so I have a plan if I end up with more than one. It would still be a financial advantage to attempt to hatch as 3 attempts at hatching would equal the cost of a single chicken, but you're right, it would still be expensive and definitely disheartening if I'm not successful! So much to consider!! Thanks again for your input!

 

[dheltzel]

Your ISA browns are still quite young and even if they decide to go broody, they will likely wait a few years before trying it. It's impossible to make a hen go broody "on cue". They have their own timetable about them. Some breeds are notorious for going broody a lot (silkies, cochins, orpingtons), but even they would not be inspired by a nest of eggs waiting for them, it's like they must decide in their mind that it is time. Once they decide, most of the broody breed hens are all in and will set for months if necessary, but many of the production breeds, like your ISA's, are easily dissuaded and will abandon a nest on a whim.

Leaving a few eggs in the nestbox is unlikely to inspire anything from your hens, but there is little risk in trying.

 

[Pork Pie]

You may wish to consider putting false eggs under a hen that is broody just to see if she is committed to sitting the full 21 days. If she does, then maybe you could get fertilised eggs when she next goes broody. I keep "local" chickens here in Kenya for their broodiness and so i can put fertilised eggs under them from other hybrids that do not go broody and it works like a treat. Having a hen raising chicks is a great experience - she does all the work and its comical to see what the little ones get up to!

 

[Pork Pie]

Sorry, i forgot to mention that choosing the best surrogate mother may be important. I choose the "top hen" which ensures that "her" chicks enjoy optimum access to food, water and are better protected from the rest of the flock.

 

[lozpearl]

Deheltzel & CTKen, thanks very much for your insights! I really appreciate it and have learnt a lot. CTKen those sound like excellent things to keep in mind, I have a false egg here so if someone sets I'll slip that under them before purchasing fertilised eggs. In the meantime I'm on the list for Orpington 3 pullets. Thanks again!

 

[Pork Pie]

you are very welcome and good luck!!