First Broody Hen, 1-1/2 YEAR OLD BUFF ORPINGTON'S

[Ronnie2]

I have 12-hen pullets, plus rooster that I purchased from brooder. They had hatched the day I picked them up at local feed store, they are now 4-months old and have been separated from adults, by chicken wire, in the same coop with adults, and have a separated run, with own entrance. The adults are 3-hens and 1-rooster. I wasn't going to combine them until their six months old, because of Chick Starter Grow, food, and vitamins mixed in waterer. Now I get a broody hen, and didn't recognize it until today. I have been picking her up to gather eggs. I have 8-eggs that have never been in the refrigerator, been left out on counter, but did rinse in cold water, using a toothbrush to remove any poop. QUESTION: Can I put these eggs under broody hen? If so what should I mark them with, paint pencil, crayon, what?
I'm going to let broody hen raise the new chicks, since I got the brooding chamber already full.

 

[Lady of McCamley]

It is usually best to not wash hatching eggs as you want the bloom on the egg. Can you gather more eggs to hatch?

Having said that, I once got eggs (expensive) from a breeder who had not kept her coops very clean (I discovered upon pick up). Some were so filthy I didn't want to put them under my broody hen, so having pre-paid and picked up (won't do that again), I washed them. I can tell you it made no difference in the hatch rate between washed and unwashed. So you could put the washed eggs under the hen, and they probably will hatch fine if they are fresh...within 5 days of lay.

I mark mine with a sharpie. Pencil tends to wear off. I mark the date I set on them as I tend to forget that until I'm trying to figure out when they should be hatching.

Set all the eggs at the same time. You can candle at 3 to 5 days, then again at 10 days to see development and toss any not developing. (Especially smart in hotter summer weather to avoid spoiled eggs...especially if you use the washed eggs).

Good luck with your brooding girl.

LofMc

 

[Ronnie2]

Thank you so much for the info. Now I will go out and put 11-eggs under her, and candle later this week. Love BYC for so much info from all the wonderful experienced heads.

 

[MillersFarm]

Letting a broody hen hatch eggs is a wonderful thing to watch, Letting them raise chicks as they follow her around the yard. Its a very amazing experience. Just so long as you supply the broody and her chicks with food and water all should go very well. Though i have a question... what type of chicken that you have went broody and is this her first time? Most first time mothers get get confused sometimes and can end up killing the chick when it hatches, stepping on the egg thus cracking/breaking it, Or just abandon the chick/eggs. How long as this chicken been broody for? She could possibly still be pre-broody which means she isn't fully committed. Sorry if i'm being a downer but a lot of people letting their first broody hatch a clutch don't go as successful as they imagine, But on the other hand some people end up with a great first-time mother hen as well.