Finally, eggs but she won't sit!

[CherryHBomb]

Thanks everyone! I grew up on a farm where chickens naturally did their thing. They laid and set on the eggs, hatched chicks, protected them and then they grew up on said farm. Nobody explained the process so I assumed that’s what chickens did. That’s been years ago so that’s really the only knowledge I have. I wanted a Brahma to see if we could even take care of a chicken. Then I had the opportunity to add Brahma mixed rooster and hen. They actually turned out to be 2 roosters. Everything has been working so nicely and I’ve never seen more gentle chickens. They follow me around like puppies. We have plenty of space so I can pen off the roosters if need be but I think everyone is right. I need to invest in an incubator. My daughter is obsessed with collecting the eggs and caring for the chickens. I’d like for her to experience the hatching and growing process.

 

[keesmom]

I'd set up that bachelor pad now, before you even try to hatch. You already have too many males for your lone pullet as it is.

Your daughter may love caring for chickens and collecting eggs. She my want to experience hatching chicks and caring for them as they grow. But with that also comes responsible flock management, unpleasant as it may be.

 

[bobbi-j]

Thanks everyone! I grew up on a farm where chickens naturally did their thing. They laid and set on the eggs, hatched chicks, protected them and then they grew up on said farm. Nobody explained the process so I assumed that’s what chickens did. That’s been years ago so that’s really the only knowledge I have. I wanted a Brahma to see if we could even take care of a chicken. Then I had the opportunity to add Brahma mixed rooster and hen. They actually turned out to be 2 roosters. Everything has been working so nicely and I’ve never seen more gentle chickens. They follow me around like puppies. We have plenty of space so I can pen off the roosters if need be but I think everyone is right. I need to invest in an incubator. My daughter is obsessed with collecting the eggs and caring for the chickens. I’d like for her to experience the hatching and growing process.

How old are those two roosters? If they haven't reached breeding age yet, that could be why everything is peaceful. Once they mature, the chances are they will harass that hen to no end. A few years ago, I had a flock that was 50/50 pullets and cockerels. Once those cockerels reached sexual maturity, those pullets weren't able to eat, drink, or dust bathe without one or more cockerels getting after them. Needless to say, those cockerels ended up in a grow out pen in short order.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

I wanted a Brahma to see if we could even take care of a chicken. Then I had the opportunity to add Brahma mixed rooster and hen. They actually turned out to be 2 roosters.

So do I understand you correctly in that you somehow got a single Brahma... that was female??

In your original research to see if you could take care of chickens did you find that they are flock animals and a single will usually be very lonely? Why get ONLY one in the first place? Where did you get this mixed rooster and hen? Were you taken advantage of by someone who KNEW they were both COCKERELS? Or do you think it was an honest mistake?

A grow out pen is a definite plus and need if hatching.

 

[CherryHBomb]

EggSighted4Life
We have several pens. Yes I know that chickens are flock animals. We had intentions of getting more but wanted to do it slowly so as not to be overwhelmed. Tilly was with our rabbit and they were best friends until a racoon took care of the rabbit. I got the COCKERELS thinking I would have 2 hens and a rooster. It was an honest mistake. She is a friend and wasn't taking advantage of me. She has offered to give me another hen and take one of the roosters to the auction. Alfie and Jack started crowing and courting Tilly and that's when she started laying eggs. They are young and I see everyone's point about young chickens. The roosters don't show any aggression. Yet. I know I have to separate and watch them. We are all attached to our chickens and I can't decide which would go. Since they aren't harassing or hurting anyone, I'm watching and waiting.

Thank you for making me feel attacked and mistaken for ever inquiring in the first place. Everyone else has gently guided and posted helpful comments. You however have made me rethink ever posting here again.

 

[chickengeorgeto]

Generally, IF (big if) the hen is going to brood, she will lay until she feels she has a decent sized clutch, then start brooding. Just keep in mind that some breeds have a better chance to brood than others. Broodyness (?) has been bred out of most breeds as egg production was more important. You can't "force" a hen to go broody... So, best option is to get an incubator. From my understanding, the eggs will be fine for up to a week to 10 days. After ~5 days, viability starts to drop off.

Hatchability of a 15 day old egg stored at perfect conditions is about 50%. When hatching chicks whether under a hen or in an incubator, a large clutch will have a better hatch rate than just a mere handful of eggs because of all the chirping and peeping that pipping chicks do. These sounds and the eggs jostling around in the nest seem to have a good effect on the rest of the pipping eggs and this seems to goad on all the chicks to make a greater effort to hatch.

 

[tjb]

Thanks everyone! I grew up on a farm where chickens naturally did their thing. They laid and set on the eggs, hatched chicks, protected them and then they grew up on said farm. Nobody explained the process so I assumed that’s what chickens did. That’s been years ago so that’s really the only knowledge I have. I wanted a Brahma to see if we could even take care of a chicken. Then I had the opportunity to add Brahma mixed rooster and hen. They actually turned out to be 2 roosters. Everything has been working so nicely and I’ve never seen more gentle chickens. They follow me around like puppies. We have plenty of space so I can pen off the roosters if need be but I think everyone is right. I need to invest in an incubator. My daughter is obsessed with collecting the eggs and caring for the chickens. I’d like for her to experience the hatching and growing process.

be forewarned... Incubating is addictive!! lol I love to see those little chicks hatch. there never seems to be a reason not to have eggs in the incubator...

 

[tjb]

EggSighted4Life
We have several pens. Yes I know that chickens are flock animals. We had intentions of getting more but wanted to do it slowly so as not to be overwhelmed. Tilly was with our rabbit and they were best friends until a racoon took care of the rabbit. I got the COCKERELS thinking I would have 2 hens and a rooster. It was an honest mistake. She is a friend and wasn't taking advantage of me. She has offered to give me another hen and take one of the roosters to the auction. Alfie and Jack started crowing and courting Tilly and that's when she started laying eggs. They are young and I see everyone's point about young chickens. The roosters don't show any aggression. Yet. I know I have to separate and watch them. We are all attached to our chickens and I can't decide which would go. Since they aren't harassing or hurting anyone, I'm watching and waiting.

Thank you for making me feel attacked and mistaken for ever inquiring in the first place. Everyone else has gently guided and posted helpful comments. You however have made me rethink ever posting here again.

Please don't hesitate to post again. I am in my first year of raising chickens and incubating and have had wonderful and positive feedback for folks on this forum. Could not have gotten thru my first hatches without them... Please do not let one post overshadow the wonderful people on here with great experience and advise.

 

[bobbi-j]

I would seriously consider taking your friend end up on the offer of replacing one of those cockerels with another pullet. If and when you start hatching, it would be good to go into it with an exit plan for extra males before you even set eggs.

 

[chickens really]

Hello..
What I do is wait for my Hens to become Broody and then collect eggs ..I set my Broody up in a Brooder and pop in the eggs.
Best wishes..