First time hatching with a hen

[XscoreX]

So I want my hens to sit and hatch their eggs. I didnt collect for a few days and now both of my hens are broody! They were just a fussin about me looking at their eggs. So 2 hens were snuggled together on about 8 eggs. I have two bantams one is a duccle and one is a frizzle. Anyway, will they stay on them or is there a chance they get bored and give up? How long can they be off the eggs? Do I need to do anything? Is there a faq I should read ? Thanks!

 

[sourland]

Not all hens are good mothers, but most are. Good luck for a successful hatch. Make sure that the rest of the flock does not disturb them as they set. They will probably leave the nest daily to eat, drink, and defecate.

 

[XscoreX]

Thanks, so should I let them free range or should I keep them in the coop (it has a run attached) i usually let my girls free range and lock them up at night. However yesterday I lost another one to a hawk. Thats the 2nd one in 4 months. My flock now consists of 2 little bantams and a mille fluer duccle rooster.Im a little afraid of letting them free range while I want them broody. Should I bring them treats? Will they keep laying and should I collect those eggs? I marked all the eggs yesterday with a stripe so I could tell if there are any new ones. Should I even mess with them? If eggs dont hatch when should I dispose of them?

 

[Jbently28]

I most definitely would not allow them to share the same nest. You are almost certain to end up with either crushed eggs or detached air cells from them moving them around too much. And I would also make sure that no other hens have access to the nest. I learned this lesson early on when one of my buff orpingtons started pecking at eggs and crushing them when they started rocking a couple of days before hatching and mama was off the nest eating. My hens all tend to want to lay their eggs in the same 2 nesting boxes. So now I have a completely separate coop that I move them to when one of my hens goes broody. And I block off the other coop when I have a broody hen so she can set in peace. Your broody hen should only come off the nest once a day to eat, drink, and poop. I would just make sure that you have their feed and water close by. She more than likely won't want to free range. And they will not lay while they are setting. So they only way you will end up with additional eggs is if others have access to the nest, which I revert back to my previous statement.

 

[chickens really]

Personally I'd wait a couple of days and then give each Hen 4 eggs to set. Separate them. Put one Hen into a crate to hatch her eggs. Sometimes two Hens will fight over Chicks once hatching. If really Broody neither will lay eggs.

 

[XscoreX]

Well I waited a few days and went out when they were sleeping and split them up. I just checked up on them tonight and both of them are still sitting on their eggs. Got my fingers crossed!