Concerned New Mom

Date sort Score sort
Drumsticks Mom

Drumsticks Mom

Hatching
Joined
Apr 21, 2015
Messages
5
Reaction score
0
Points
9
Location
Fort Pierce, Florida 34945
We just started with our chickens and have a great asst. of hens with one frizzle rooster. One of our chickens never made it back to the hen house and we looked for her and found her in the hay room sitting on a nest with 15 or so eggs. There is an assortment of different eggs from the other hens. She is very protective of the nest. Does this mean they are fertile? Will they take turns? I really need help in figuring out what to do. Please help!! Need advice ASAP. Thank you very much!! Drumsticks Mom
 
I don't think they should share the nest/brood. If they fight eggs will get broken. It would be good if you could fence off the nest so other hens cannot keep adding to the total. Any eggsin good condition now - you should mark, so you know if any more get dropped off. Remove any new ones to an incubator if you want to hatch, or to another broody hen. Sounds like your present broody has plenty to sit on. If she has too many she can't cover them all to keep them warm)

Hens don't know if eggs are fertile or not. Some broodies will try to hatch rocks or thin air. Do you have a rooster that has been breeding your hens? If NOT, there isn't any chance the eggs will hatch. Have you tried candling the eggs to see if there is any development?
 
Hello!
400

Welcome to BYC and the coop! There's a lot of great peeps here! Feel free to ask lots of questions. But most of all, make yourself at home. I'm so glad you decided to joined the BYC family.
 
Hello :frow and Welcome To BYC! There are some nice articles in the Learning Center on broody hens you might like to check out https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/hatching-eggs-and-raising-chicks X2 on drumstick diva's suggestions on separating (or moving) the hen/nest so the other hens don't lay more eggs in it. Just because she is sitting on them does not mean they are fertile, but since you have a rooster there is a good possibility they are. Broody hens usually do not like to "share" nests, the other hens though will keep laying eggs in hers which you don't really want if you can stop it (higher chance of broken eggs and it is a real problem when chicks start to hatch and other hens are stomping around and the mother can't keep them off).
 

New posts New threads Active threads

Back
Top Bottom