First timer - the hen and me!

krismares · May 19, 2018

I have my first broody hen. She is on about 13 eggs that I am pretty sure are all fertile. As a newbie myself, I didn’t think about marking and taking out eggs, so I know it will be a staggered hatch. Today is day 21. She is is the nesting box and I am constantly checking on her! I can’t see eggs, so will a chick be the first sign of a hatch? I don’t expect all the eggs to actually hatch, but the kids and I are just excited to go through this process! We’ve had chicks before (raised this momma from a chick), but never momma hatched chicks.

So, what am I looking and listening for?

sourland · May 19, 2018

Good luck on the hatch. Understand that somewhere between 24 and 36 hours after the first chick hatches she will leave the nest. You will need a plan B for the unhatched eggs. Staggered hatches can be a disaster.