Giving a broody fertile eggs

[Jrobb78]

Last year our flock was decimated by a fox. I have a broody easter egger and am planning to order fertile eggs for her to hatch. We are newer to chickens and I have no experience, so I’m looking for insight and advice! We only have 3 girls left of our 8, should I expect any problems from the other 2? One is a RIR, the other is a silver laced Wyandotte. I have read that the hen will do all the work, is there anything I should do?

 

[NorthernMIFlock]

My buff orp hen has gone broody 3 times in 3 years and I’ve given her fertile eggs each time. As long as she’s committed to sitting (you will know within a couple days) just put the egg in front of her, one at a time and she will tuck it in and settle it. Mine did everything! Integrated the babies, protected them, showed them how to forage etc. She ignores them after approx 6 weeks but by then they’re well established with the flock (although low in the pecking order). My other hens avoided the babies at all costs, mom was fierce! Have fun and get her the eggs sooner than later so she doesn’t have to sit too long, it is hard on them.

 

[Jrobb78]

My buff orp hen has gone broody 3 times in 3 years and I’ve given her fertile eggs each time. As long as she’s committed to sitting (you will know within a couple days) just put the egg in front of her, one at a time and she will tuck it in and settle it. Mine did everything! Integrated the babies, protected them, showed them how to forage etc. She ignores them after approx 6 weeks but by then they’re well established with the flock (although low in the pecking order). My other hens avoided the babies at all costs, mom was fierce! Have fun and get her the eggs sooner than later so she doesn’t have to sit too long, it is hard on them.

Thanks so much! I ordered the eggs today, she has been broody for a few days but I wanted to make sure. She went broody the same time last year, so I was really hoping to have her hatch for me this year, although I didn’t expect to be down to so few chickens. I’m so excited, hopefully everything goes well!

 

[my gang eats grass]

You may want to have an incubator set up just in case the hen does not want to hatch them, and put a bucket over her for a while when you first give her the eggs ( My tried and true trick for getting a hen to hatch eggs lol). Hope everything goes well!

 

[Jrobb78]

My buff orp hen has gone broody 3 times in 3 years and I’ve given her fertile eggs each time. As long as she’s committed to sitting (you will know within a couple days) just put the egg in front of her, one at a time and she will tuck it in and settle it. Mine did everything! Integrated the babies, protected them, showed them how to forage etc. She ignores them after approx 6 weeks but by then they’re well established with the flock (although low in the pecking order). My other hens avoided the babies at all costs, mom was fierce! Have fun and get her the eggs sooner than later so she doesn’t have to sit too long, it is hard on them.

Do you just feed the entire flock chick starter, or do the chicks eat the layer feed?

 

[Aapomp831]

Do you just feed the entire flock chick starter, or do the chicks eat the layer feed?

Everybody gets chick starter - leave out oyster shell on the side for the other two. The extra protein in the chick food will do the broody good.

 

[Jrobb78]

You may want to have an incubator set up just in case the hen does not want to hatch them, and put a bucket over her for a while when you first give her the eggs ( My tried and true trick for getting a hen to hatch eggs lol). Hope everything goes well!

Wow, I never read the bucket thing!

 

[NorthernMIFlock]

Thanks so much! I ordered the eggs today, she has been broody for a few days but I wanted to make sure. She went broody the same time last year, so I was really hoping to have her hatch for me this year, although I didn’t expect to be down to so few chickens. I’m so excited, hopefully everything goes well!

Thanks and same to you! Please update here when she’s all done

 

[NorthernMIFlock]

I offered chick starter in a smaller feeder next to my little nursery, but once they can reach my hanging feeders they eat whatever

Do you just feed the entire flock chick starter, or do the chicks eat the layer feed?

 

[Jrobb78]

Everybody gets chick starter - leave out oyster shell on the side for the other two. The extra protein in the chick food will do the broody good.

Ok that’s what I thought. Thank you!