Hatching eggs question

[Lrosell31]

I have 13 hens and one rooster that’s younger than my hens. This is the first time raising backyard birds. But I keep debating on whether to see if my hens will hatch there own eggs and I don’t even know if my rooster is doing his job. He does mount the hens that allow him to. Also my hensall take turns sitting on eggs and they all lay there eggs together. So my question is if I wanted to try and have my hens hatch there own eggs what do I do. And how do I know that they are even fertile

 

[azygous]

Break open one of the eggs and examine the yolk for a blastocyst, a slightly white quarter-inch "bulls-eye". If you see this, the cockerel is effectively fertilizing the eggs.

A far better strategy to deciding which eggs to hatch would be to select the hens you want more of. In my case, I have Cream Legbar rooster, so I really only desire chicks from Legbar hens. Those are the only eggs I collect for a broody to sit on.

You may not mind barnyard mixes, so select the hens that are good layers or that have good temperaments and save their eggs. I keep these eggs in a cool, not refrigerated, spot up to a week before I give them to a broody hen.

 

[aart]

Also my hensall take turns sitting on eggs and they all lay there eggs together. So my question is if I wanted to try and have my hens hatch there own eggs what do I do.

Take turns sitting on eggs... or laying them?

They will all use the same nest.....
....unless you entice them to use the other nests with fake eggs or golf balls.

Some birds sit in nest for quite awhile before and after laying,
I call those the 'loungers'.
But that doesn't mean they are broody and want to set on eggs until they hatch.

A truly broody hen will sit in nest most the day and all night.
It's hormonal thing and some birds will never go broody.
You'll have to wait and hope that you get a broody hen to hatch some chicks...
....or use an incubator.

Some things to think about:
Do you have the space needed? Both for more chickens and she may need to be separated by wire from the rest of the flock.

Do you have a plan on what to do with the inevitable males?
Rehome, butcher, keep in separate 'bachelor pad'?

This is a great thread for reference and to ask questions about broodies.
It's a long one but just start reading the first few pages, then browse thru some more at random.
http://www.backyardchickens.com/t/496101/broody-hen-thread

 

[Unexpected chicken lover]

Take turns sitting on eggs... or laying them?

They will all use the same nest.....
....unless you entice them to use the other nests with fake eggs or golf balls.

Some birds sit in nest for quite awhile before and after laying,
I call those the 'loungers'.
But that doesn't mean they are broody and want to set on eggs until they hatch.

A truly broody hen will sit in nest most the day and all night.
It's hormonal thing and some birds will never go broody.
You'll have to wait and hope that you get a broody hen to hatch some chicks...
....or use an incubator.

Some things to think about:
Do you have the space needed? Both for more chickens and she may need to be separated by wire from the rest of the flock.

Do you have a plan on what to do with the inevitable males?
Rehome, butcher, keep in separate 'bachelor pad'?

This is a great thread for reference and to ask questions about broodies.
It's a long one but just start reading the first few pages, then browse thru some more at random.
http://www.backyardchickens.com/t/496101/broody-hen-thread

All very good points/questions

 

[Lrosell31]

All very good points/questions

One chicken lays an egg. Then the other chickens wait there turn to lay in the same spot. So basically I will find between four or five eggs in the same spot. Also they take turns sitting on the eggs. I have always collected eggs every day. Haven’t tried to have them hatch any yet. I also haven’t noticed any hens getting broody. The only one that has gotten broody is my adult duck. And now I’m bummed I didn’t leave eggs with her. Also my chickens will lay there eggs with my female ducks egg. I have actually seen my hen sitting on the duck egg before. Or my hens will lay an egg by the duck egg.

 

[azygous]

Be patient. Hens can go broody any time during spring and summer. There's lots of time.