Good time to start hatching?

[silkiechicken]

You have a broody? So you have a hen who is sitting on a nest and hatching eggs for you? If that is the case, you can put eggs under a broody hen and she will take care of them. However, a broody hen who has sat for a long time can just get up and go be a regular ol hen at any time if her internal clock says "time's up".

Broody is a mental/hormonal condition of a hen which happens to some more than others, if at all.

 

[RockyPhoenix]

yea i know....shes not sitting on eggs right now but as soon as i get her in a room alone with eggs she will! she is ever faithful and has never failed me...is it safe to hatch them under her in winter?

 

[kathyinmo]

Christopher ...
You can't "make," a hen go broody. She will go broody when her hormones tell her to. When you see her sitting on eggs (or on the nest) all the time ... that's when you have a broody.

 

[Buck Creek Chickens]

Quote:
yes the first of january, but I have a shed just for brooding chicks, my first hatch of the year will be this fri.

 

[speckledhen]

You can hatch anytime of year. If the broody hasn't been broody for more than two weeks, you could give her eggs. I hesitate to give a broody eggs if she's already been sitting without them for two weeks since it compromises her own health with drastically reduced food and water.