Eggs in incubator -Day 12 - Suddenly we have broody hen - Move them?

[Engteacher]

Okay, we have a first time broody. She was lingering in the nest box, so I moved her into our broody box with three fake eggs. She got right on them and growled. If she stays put, can I slip the incubator eggs under her? I know hens can't count, but we'd be looking at day 15. That's really close to lock down. My eggs are out of our flock, so we don't have big bucks invested in them, just heart. I would much rather have henny raise these chicks, but worry that 20 eggs would be a lot for her to sit on successfully. I mean, that one large pile of eggs. She's a Black Java - large fowl. Our only other Black Java broody did a marvelous job and raised chicks in the dead of a Minnesota winter.

Advice and anecdotes welcome - good and bad.

Here was our last successful broody with one of her chicks.

 

[paddock36]

Why not just leave the eggs in the bator and then slip them under her after hatch.

 

[Engteacher]

I'm thinking that I'll slip some under her and keep the rest in the incubator. I don't want to give her more than she can handle.

 

[Mrs. Mucket]

Quote:
I am planning to do the same thing. The week I started the incubator, my little Dark Brahma banty went broody. I plan to give her 6 eggs on Day 18 and give her the rest of the chicks after they hatch. I don't think she could cover 12 standard eggs but from what I understand she could raise all the chicks. This is my first hatch either way so I'm just learning and hoping all goes well.

 

[Matt A NC]

Quote:
I constantly do this, including right now. It is best to have a couple actually hatch under the hen. That way you can add any others that hatch in the bator at the same time. I never give my hens more then 12 babies. Never had a problem with that number.

Matt

 

[Engteacher]

Sounds like we're both experimenting. Let's compare notes in a few weeks, so we can pool our knowledge.

Best of luck!