First time attempting to use brood hen to hatch eggs

[ricon farm mom]

I have 11 eggs I want to have hatched. I have read up on how to pick the right hen to use for the brooding. I determined which hen to use. She sat on the eggs at first and after 15 minutes she started freaking out in the brooding pen. I let her out and tried another hen. She did the same thing. I assumed it was because the other hens and rooster were out of the coop. I left the eggs where they were hoping one of the hens would sit on the eggs when they came in for the night. No one sat on them so I took the first hen and put her in the pen. First question: How long should I leave the eggs before one of the hens sits on them? 2. Do I leave her locked up with the eggs 24/7 or should I let her out when I let the other chickens out to free range? 3. Does the brooding hen sit on the eggs 24/7 and not want to leave them?

 

[CoopDelisle]

In my experience, you do not choose the hen; the hen decides herself that she wants to sit on eggs. One day you find her in the nest, and she flattens herself out like a pancake and ruffles her feathers and growls at you to leave her alone! I don't think you can just pick a hen and make her sit on the eggs. That would be nice, though!

Coop