Fertile eggs

[Ladies5]

I just put a rooster in my hen house. I am new to this chicken life. I was wondering how many baby chicks does one hen have? Will she lay on eggs that are not fertile? Thank you

 

[Judy]

Larger birds can usually successfully hatch 10 or 12, smaller ones maybe 8. Sometimes they will try to sit on a lot more, nand they don't exactly set them al at once, so for the best hatch rate. collect the eggs yourself then put them under her all at once. And yes, they will sit on infertile eggs. They will sit on golf balls, plastic eggs, and even nothing at all, if their hormones are telling them to sit.

Some people let the mama raise the chicks mixed in with the rest of the flock -- which is what I've done 6 or 8 times, with no difficulty. Some peole prefer not to, but then you need a grow out pen,a larger place where the chicks can grow to full size after the mama stops mothering, usually around 4 to 8 weeks.

Here is some good reading about broodies:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/693407/broody-bird-what-to-do/0_20#post_9400530

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/693407/broody-bird-what-to-do/0_20#post_9400530