eggs in incubator and a broody

[junior67]

so I have eggs in my incubator that just went in lockdown tonight. I also have a broody that has been sitting since almost the same day I set my eggs (may have been a day before, the day of or day after but was almost exact on timing). I haven't let her set on any eggs yet besides fake ones since I gave another broody eggs a bit ago and it didn't end well for her (assuming she was too far down in the pecking order and just didn't defend her nest?)....... Well this broody sitting now has done GREAT! She has had a few climb in with her and lay and sometimes she will get up and leave to head out to eat etc. others she just stays and lets them lay their egg with her (which I then remove when I collect eggs)..........

Now my question....... I am thinking about letting the broody raise some of the chicks that I have hatching. Is it better to give her a couple of the eggs before they hatch and let them hatch under her and then add a couple more to her or just wait and add chicks?????

I feel dumb for asking since last year I had, I think, 4 broodys raise babies. I had them all raise them in the coop/run with the rest of the flock. one hatched one chick and I gave her the other that I hatched in the incubator (she had 2-3 under her and I had I think 2-3 in the incubator but only these 2 hatched). another none of her eggs hatched so I bought chicks and gave them to her, another hatched a single chick under her. Then 1 hatched I think 4 under her and I added another 13 and she raised them all. So I have done basically every way there was and didn't have any problems with either. I think I am more worried as she is one that hatched last year, in July. I now have 2 yr olds and some that are almost a year........ Last year when the broodies raised the babies I only had the older group then for the one that had a bunch I had chicks in the brooder in my coop and some that were a few months old but too scared to go near the big girls with the babies. I know I won't completely know what this hen will do till I give her babies.........

But if it were you would you think it would be easier for her to hatch a couple and then add more (watching for a bit of course) or just try to give her chicks after they hatch?

 

[DobieLover]

How many eggs did you set and how many eggs were viable before you went into lockdown?
I would wait until the chicks are hatched and dry and then slip them under the broody at night and remove all the fake eggs. And then obviously be out first thing in the morning to monitor and make sure she accepts them all.

 

[Colleen Cox]

so I have eggs in my incubator that just went in lockdown tonight. I also have a broody that has been sitting since almost the same day I set my eggs (may have been a day before, the day of or day after but was almost exact on timing). I haven't let her set on any eggs yet besides fake ones since I gave another broody eggs a bit ago and it didn't end well for her (assuming she was too far down in the pecking order and just didn't defend her nest?)....... Well this broody sitting now has done GREAT! She has had a few climb in with her and lay and sometimes she will get up and leave to head out to eat etc. others she just stays and lets them lay their egg with her (which I then remove when I collect eggs)..........

Now my question....... I am thinking about letting the broody raise some of the chicks that I have hatching. Is it better to give her a couple of the eggs before they hatch and let them hatch under her and then add a couple more to her or just wait and add chicks?????

I feel dumb for asking since last year I had, I think, 4 broodys raise babies. I had them all raise them in the coop/run with the rest of the flock. one hatched one chick and I gave her the other that I hatched in the incubator (she had 2-3 under her and I had I think 2-3 in the incubator but only these 2 hatched). another none of her eggs hatched so I bought chicks and gave them to her, another hatched a single chick under her. Then 1 hatched I think 4 under her and I added another 13 and she raised them all. So I have done basically every way there was and didn't have any problems with either. I think I am more worried as she is one that hatched last year, in July. I now have 2 yr olds and some that are almost a year........ Last year when the broodies raised the babies I only had the older group then for the one that had a bunch I had chicks in the brooder in my coop and some that were a few months old but too scared to go near the big girls with the babies. I know I won't completely know what this hen will do till I give her babies.........

But if it were you would you think it would be easier for her to hatch a couple and then add more (watching for a bit of course) or just try to give her chicks after they hatch?

If you have a broody hen that has been sitting for almost the same amount of time as your eggs in the incubator, it is certainly an option to let her raise some of the chicks once they hatch. In terms of whether to give her eggs or chicks, there are pros and cons to each approach.

Giving her some of the eggs before they hatch can be beneficial in that she can bond with the chicks as they hatch and develop a strong maternal instinct towards them. However, there is a risk that some of the eggs may not hatch, and you will need to remove any unhatched eggs after a few days to prevent them from going bad.

On the other hand, giving her chicks after they hatch can be easier as you know exactly how many chicks you have to give her, and there is no risk of unhatched eggs. However, introducing chicks to a broody hen can be more difficult than giving her eggs, as she may reject the chicks if she does not see them as her own.

Ultimately, the decision on whether to give her eggs or chicks depends on your personal preference and the behavior of the broody hen. If you feel confident in her ability to mother the chicks, you could try giving her a few eggs and monitoring her behavior. If she seems to be a good mother and accepts the hatched chicks, you could consider giving her more. If not, you can remove the eggs and try giving her chicks once they hatch.

 

[junior67]

How many eggs did you set and how many eggs were viable before you went into lockdown?
I would wait until the chicks are hatched and dry and then slip them under the broody at night and remove all the fake eggs. And then obviously be out first thing in the morning to monitor and make sure she accepts them all.

I set 16 for me (hatching someone else's eggs too) 2 were clear and the other 14 made it to lockdown. Day 19 starts at 8pm so they will hatch tomorrow or Sat.

 

[junior67]

If you have a broody hen that has been sitting for almost the same amount of time as your eggs in the incubator, it is certainly an option to let her raise some of the chicks once they hatch. In terms of whether to give her eggs or chicks, there are pros and cons to each approach.

Giving her some of the eggs before they hatch can be beneficial in that she can bond with the chicks as they hatch and develop a strong maternal instinct towards them. However, there is a risk that some of the eggs may not hatch, and you will need to remove any unhatched eggs after a few days to prevent them from going bad.

On the other hand, giving her chicks after they hatch can be easier as you know exactly how many chicks you have to give her, and there is no risk of unhatched eggs. However, introducing chicks to a broody hen can be more difficult than giving her eggs, as she may reject the chicks if she does not see them as her own.

Ultimately, the decision on whether to give her eggs or chicks depends on your personal preference and the behavior of the broody hen. If you feel confident in her ability to mother the chicks, you could try giving her a few eggs and monitoring her behavior. If she seems to be a good mother and accepts the hatched chicks, you could consider giving her more. If not, you can remove the eggs and try giving her chicks once they hatch.

The eggs are on day 18, 19 starts at 8pm tonight. So hopefully won't need to remove any. And won't be long till they start peeping at her

 

[Clodill4rel]

I just did this incubated half way and we had a hen go broody she was only a week broody and the eggs were half way. I slipped 10 under her they all just hatched yest and the three I left in the incubator just pop last night so actually two days later than the ones I set outside. Is there a reason for this? Incubator is Nurture right 360 hatches have been great from it but seem to run later than day 21. Most hatched from it come day 22 and 23. Must be a temp thing it’s set at 99.5. I live in the desert so it is quite warm here and super dry. I worried about them hatching outside because of such low humidity but it hasn’t seemed to be a problem. I’m totally about broody hens now rather than incubators…. What are all your thoughts?

 

[junior67]

I just did this incubated half way and we had a hen go broody she was only a week broody and the eggs were half way. I slipped 10 under her they all just hatched yest and the three I left in the incubator just pop last night so actually two days later than the ones I set outside. Is there a reason for this? Incubator is Nurture right 360 hatches have been great from it but seem to run later than day 21. Most hatched from it come day 22 and 23. Must be a temp thing it’s set at 99.5. I live in the desert so it is quite warm here and super dry. I worried about them hatching outside because of such low humidity but it hasn’t seemed to be a problem. I’m totally about broody hens now rather than incubators…. What are all your thoughts?

If you don't have another thermometer/hygrometer in the incubator my guess is the temp is off. If you can get a calibrated thermometer to check temp in there you can calibrate the NR360. Mine hatch anywhere from day 19-21 using mine.