Curious about hatching eggs

[fazziobear1]

Hi. I have been very curious about getting some fertile eggs next year and having one of my silkie hens hatch them for me. Only problem is, I have no clue how I would go about doing that. How do you know when would be the right time to do it? Or which nest box to put the eggs in.... Will the other hens continue to lay in that same spot, or will the "mothering hen" protect her nest? Any help would be appreciated. I don't plan on doing this until next year, so I want to learn all I can. Also, would I be able to put different species of bird eggs (quails, ducks, etc) and she would raise them? Or only chickens...

 

[SIMZ]

You'd want to wait until she's "broody" to get the eggsA broody hen won't leave the nest, is all puffed up, makes lots of fuss when you reach under her, etc.

As for the eggs - You could mark the eggs so you'd know if new ones were laid. You may also want to put her in a separate area or in a dog crate to keep the other chickens from getting to the eggs.

Finally, I think you can give her other kinds of eggs - although stick with one kind since they often have different incubation periods. Also, keep in mind the sizes of mom and babies so the hen can keep the chicks warm enough.

 

[fazziobear1]

Ok, so when I do this am I still going to need a heat light on in the coop? Or does the hen strictly keep them warm? Also, once the eggs do hatch, would I still need to keep them away from the rest of the flock, or does she protect them? Sorry so many questions, just want to do it right the first time & without an incubator.

 

[Folly's place]

Your broody will keep them warm, no heat lamp needed. I move my broody and her eggs into a large dog crate, in the coop. It's a production; move the crate into the coop, set it up with bedding and platforms for the food and water, during the day. After dark, go out quietly with a very small flashlight, and move the broody and her eggs, into the crate. Wear gloves to prevent pecking injuries. Add food and water containers, and sneak away. Think good thoughts to hen. Mark the date, provide clean water and food, and don't mess with mama! After hatching, I clean out the cage a little, and let them out with the flock after about five days. The crate stays in the coop another one or two weeks, until the broody decides she doesn't need it any more. Mary

 

[Tangy2134]

I'm pretty sure you can put different types of eggs under her and I agree with all that what said up there^^ good luck with your first time with a broody hen!

 

[Mtn Laurel]

I'm doing exactly that now. Hen went seriously broody beginning of the week. She'd been "playing" at it for weeks but finally began to steal everyone's eggs and wouldn't get out of the nesting box. I ordered fertile eggs for her and then moved her into our original coop. It's a large chicken tractor that will have plenty of room for her to raise chicks in.

I should have moved her in the dead of night but we were about to get an evening of storms so I moved her at twilight. Big Mistake! She turned into "Godzilla Broody" and made noises I'd never heard come from a hen! Yikes!

I've also learned I had to block her being able to see the other coop as she will pace, trying to find a way to get back to her original nest. I hung a sheet so she couldn't see the other coop and she settled right down.

She had settled down by the time the fertile eggs arrived. I let the eggs sit for several hours and then "switched" eggs out. She had been sitting on stolen, infertile eggs. I let her keep them until the fertile ones arrived. She went off the nest to eat and drink and I then swapped eggs. Have to wonder what she thought when she returned and found 11 eggs instead of 4! LOL! She's a big girl - Buff Orpington - and had no problem covering them all.

It's her first time going broody so we'll see if she continues to sit on them. Fingers crossed!

 

[donrae]

I usually leave my momma hen in with the flock to brood and raise chicks. I've found it's important to mark the eggs you want her to hatch (I draw a circle around it with a sharpie so I can see which egg is marked without having to pick them up) because the other hens will add eggs to the clutch. If you don't remove those eggs and they're fertile, you have partially incubated chicks. If they're not fertile, they're kept nice and warm and bacteria's likely to grow in them.

either way! Plus, if hens keep adding eggs, eventually there'll be too many for her to keep all the eggs warm and chicks won't develop and/or hatch properly.

No heat lamp needed, momma provides all that! Just be sure the babies can reach the food and water.

The lady I bought my bantam cochins from said she used them to brood peafowl eggs. Since the hens are so tiny, I'm guessing it was only 1 or 2 eggs per broody. I give my bantam girls 6-7 large fowl eggs and they do fine.

 

[fazziobear1]

Thank you for all the great advice! I'm excited about it and can't wait to start!! Just have to wait till my silkie girls grow up... Lol. By next spring/summer hopefully they'll be ready. I was thinking about throwing one or two under my broody RIR but shes not exactly the friendliest thing. So, I'll just wait for my silkie.