Clutch size for broody hen?

[CraziChknLady]

Thanks everyone! We're raising buckeyes and malines for meat with eggs being more of a bonus, so I will not be sad with a male heavy hatch.

My goal next year is to hatch 100. Our incubator holds 50, so that shouldn't be too hard to accomplish. Husband thinks that's maybe a bit ambitious, but we did 40 this year so I think it's doable. And we don't necessarily need to raise all of them, if we feel overwhelmed we can always advertise chicks for sale.

But I think letting some broodies raise some will make it easier for us. Limu did well last spring, I think the poor hatch was 100% that the eggs just didn't have good fertility. And so far this year 5/6 of my hens have gone broody multiple times. So I figure, why not put them to work?

Please let me know about the buckeyes. Either eggs or chicks. Would eventually like to start my own flock, but hard to find them where I'm at.

 

[CraziChknLady]

I had the brown hen ( Margaret) hatch out 15 last year (2024) and she must have had good coverage cuz they all made it. I think she was some Banty mox. At the time had 3 reg size and 4 banty hens total. Sadly several months later, something got her. She was a good mama.