First time broody hen question

[Shemira]

I agree with this. I only candle eggs at 11 days of incubation and take away only the ones that have 0 development, all the others even if seemingly halted stay under the broody. Even if they don't seem to be moving or pip around the day they are supposed to hatch, still keep them under the broody.

The worst that might happen if they aren't fertilized or died is that your broody is sitting on an extra egg. The worst that could happen if you throw them is that they are still developing fetuses and you just killed them.

Great, thank you so much
That is a relief. Luckily I only removed the infertile one last night, as I wanted to check here first... phew.

 

[Shemira]

Since it is her first time, I would only put a couple of egg max under her at lockdown. I had one first-timer get off to dust bathe while her eggs were hatching. Luckily I had another broody to put them under and my first-timer got that other hen's chicks after they hatched and she did a good job mothering them.

As long as she has one or two chicks hatch under her she will get the idea that they came from the eggs and she will accept the other chicks.

oh no, yep well mothering is never easy, especially the first time, I recall that lol. She has been broody so often I'm so excited for her to have chicks finally. She's such a sweet hen

 

[Ridgerunner]

today will be 8 days(for both)

Thanks for responding.

I typically put 12 eggs under a broody, whether it is her first time or if she is an old experienced hand. I've had as much success with first time broody hens as I have had with experienced hens.

You started with believing you have 5 good eggs in the incubator and 1 under the broody. I personally do not toss any eggs unless I know for sure they will not hatch. It doesn't hurt to leave them in the incubator or under the hen if you are not sure unless they have bacteria growing inside them. How can you tell if they have bacteria growing in them? Smell them. If you sniff the rotten egg smell through the porous shell then carefully toss that egg. As the bacteria multiplies it can ooze through the porous shell and contaminate the other eggs so remove any that stink, whether in the incubator or under a broody hen. I'll use the 5 and 1 for my examples but if you are not sure certain of the other eggs are not developing you can adjust the numbers accordingly.

You want the hen to raise all of the chicks. I do too if possible. When I start eggs under a broody hen I usually start some in the incubator also. Things can happen, whether in the incubator or under the broody hen, so that one set of eggs does not hatch. Usually they do OK but just in case something happens I still want the hen to raise some chicks.

Option 1: Put all of the eggs under the broody. If they hatch under her she should adopt them to raise.

Option 2: Put all of the eggs in the incubator and see if she will stay broody with a couple of fake eggs under her. When they hatch give her all of the chicks. That usually works but on rare occasions the hen will reject the chicks. Don't worry if it is 1, 2 or 5 fake eggs. That should not matter.

Option 3: Give her half of the developing eggs to hatch and keep half in the incubator. When they hatch, slip the incubator chicks under her at night with the others. That should work and is basically what I do but I have more eggs. I would not wait until lockdown to do this but prefer to do it earlier. The timing of the hatch is not precise, waiting too late could cause issues. The reason I'd want more than one developing egg under her is that just because it is developing does not mean it will hatch and I'd want chicks to hatch under her to make it more likely she will accept them all.

I don't know where you are so I have no idea what weather you are having. I don't know where she is brooding outside or how that is set up. I don't know how safe that area is. I don't know enough to make your decision for you. Any version of these three options has a reasonable chance of success.

Good luck!