Can you add eggs under a broody hen a few days after she starts brooding

[Sire12]

One of my hens has started to go broody which is great since I've had no luck with incubation, she started yesterday can I keep adding the other hens eggs under her for a few days or would that interrupt the cycle since some of them would hatch on day 21, then some of day 22 etc? she's the top of the pecking order after the rooster so the other hens shouldn't bother her much

And is there any special feed or anything I need to purchase beforehand to give her after they hatch? I have some ACS chick crumb here

 

[TheOddOneOut]

All eggs should be added on the exact same date. That way they all develop at the same time. Adding eggs day after day will not work out.

If you add eggs day by day, embryos will be in totally different stages of development. The broody will wait a day or two, but then will leave the nest with her first-hatched chicks, leaving other eggs to chill and die.

If you put them all under her on the same date, the embryos will be roughly similar in hatching times, all within around 36 hours of each other. The broody will then wait long enough for all to hatch, and then will leave with all chicks.

Just take whatever eggs you want her to hatch, and put them under her at the same time. Depending on size of hen, 5-11 eggs is best.

She needs a separate nesting box where the other hens can't reach her.
A cardboard box in a playpen or a dog kennel in a small enclosure works. It must be shady, predator-proof and waterproof. Also rest-of-flock proof.
It is a good idea to have chick supplies on hand.
Good luck!

 

[Sire12]

All eggs should be added on the exact same date. That way they all develop at the same time. Adding eggs day after day will not work out.

Ah ok, well I added some at noon today and I noticed that she started brooding yesterday evening so would those new eggs still be ok I didn't mark them so I won't know which ones they are to lift them back out

 

[TheOddOneOut]

Ah ok, well I added some at noon today and I noticed that she started brooding yesterday evening so would those new eggs still be ok I didn't mark them so I won't know which ones they are to lift them back out

Okay. For more info look at my edited post. Maybe just take those out and add new ones? I'm not sure.

 

[Sire12]

Okay. For more info look at my edited post. Maybe just take those out and add new ones? I'm not sure.

Ok thanks for the info

 

[Katie386]

If you have an incubator maybe you can wait until most hatch and she leaves the nest with the chicks and put the rest in an incubator or another broody hen

edit: one or two days might not be that big of a problem but I’m not sure

 

[Sire12]

If you have an incubator maybe you can wait until most hatch and she leaves the nest with the chicks and put the rest in an incubator or another broody hen

edit: one or two days might not be that big of a problem but I’m not sure

Yeah I'll try that

 

[Sire12]

I had a few more questions I appreciate the help since this will be the first time I've had a hen hatch out chicks, when she leaves the nest do the chicks follow her and will she be able to look after them herself or are you supposed to help in some ways?

Do I need to keep them all isolated from the rest of the flock like fence off a corner where the hen and chicks can run around in or will they be ok with the rest of the flock? She's the top of the pecking order and the other hens are fairly docile the rooster too is friendly natured if that makes any difference

Can I still feed her grain and layers pellets like usual and will she then feed that to the chicks or do I need to put down some chick crumb?

Do you still need to candle eggs to make sure there's something growing in them and remove any duds - if she sits on infertile eggs will they explode like in an incubator or will they just not hatch?

Thanks

 

[Folly's place]

It's safest to have her separated from the flock until the chicks are a few days old. Fencing her into her corner will be good, with her food and water.
She's not laying eggs, so feeding her chick feed is a good idea, then the babies will have the right food available too. When the chicks are out with the flock, they need grit, and it's best that they eat chick starter, or better yet, have everyone eat an all-flock feed with separate oyster shell for the actively laying hens.
I do try to candle the eggs once, at seven to ten days, when it's obvious if they are duds or not. I don't want to harass the broody any more than necessary, so leave things alone otherwise. If you happen to be out there when she's off eating, it's a good time to look.
Every egg won't hatch a healthy chick every time! Be ready to enjoy the good ones, and don't feel guilty about the failed chicks.
Mary

 

[Katie386]

I’ve recently done a lot of research on this. She will take care of them to the best of her ability but she cannot be everywhere at once some may lag behind and get lost and other birds might attack it. I gave my broody hen chicks just yesterday but I put her in a fenced in area with a nest that no one can get in she seems more comfortable being able to see her flock but be protected from them at the same time.