First time Hatching with Broody - Need Advice!

[CountryHeart06]

I have an Orpington who has wanted to be a Mom forever so I decided this year we will finally give her her wish. I'm trying to study up on how to hatch with a broody Momma but a lot of what I'm finding is hatching with an incubator. Can someone point me in the right direction for hatching with a broody chicken and not an incubator?

And side question - what can I use to write on the eggs so I know which ones are hatching eggs and not from my layers? Is pencil ok? Thank you!!

 

[Pork Pie]

This is the link you're after - https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...ody-hen-hatch-a-long-and-informational-thread

And sure, a pencil is just fine - its what i use.

 

[bobbi-j]

I love letting a broody hatch out a clutch of eggs. I am pretty hands off with mine. I trust them to get up to drink, eat, poop, dustbathe and do whatever on their own. I will move them on occasion if they are in a vulnerable place where a predator can get them, or try to move them if they are in a favorite nest box. (My oldest broody is stubborn. She insists on setting in her chosen spot, or she just plain won't set.) Both of my current broodies are in the coop with the general population. The first one due to hatch is in a place where I can't separate her from the rest. The other one will be separated when it's closer to hatch time, but not yet. (All I have to do is close a door) So, they are both where other chickens can lay in their nests. The only thing I do with my two broodies is pick them up once a day to see if any donations have been added to their nests, and then let them be.