Crazy Question

[rachdmorgan]

Hi all,
Maybe this is a crazy question. I have 5 eggs in my incubator that should hatch in a week. I have a broody hen as well. Is it possible for me to slip those eggs under the broody hen at night and she heat them. Even though it would only be sitting for a week would she still mother them?

thanks in advance.

 

[trailrider330]

Is this an experienced broody? Is the a good mama? Generally, if a hen has been setting at least 2 weeks by the time chicks hatch, her hormones should be at the right levels for her to still accept the chicks at hatch. However, if she in inexperienced or they are expensive/rare eggs, I do not think I would chance it unless you can babysit her for a day or two as the chicks hatch.

 

[trailrider330]

You may also want to check out the "broody hen thread" here as that thread will have a lot of good information. This question is also answered on there, but you could ask it again as well.

 

[rachdmorgan]

She is a first time mother.It is the same breed of eggs. We will see what happens. I plan to babysit while they hatch to see how she is doing with it. She accepted the eggs i put under her. I just had another hen (her sibling) hatch 12 chicks out of 15 eggs...and its possible by the end of today they all hatch. She has been an excellent mother so far. It is just much easier to let the hen raise them than me. The survival rate is much higher.

So excited about the 12 chicks i discovered this morning!