Hatching eggs with a broody hen

[FarmerCarl]

That's not a crazy idea is it? I'm thinking about trying to hatch eggs this summer so I don't have to rely on buying new chicks every year. Here's my idea. Please tell me what you think or if you think there is a better way to accomplish my goal.

I have laying hens now and will add more this spring. I prefer not to have a rooster around because I'm selling eggs to family and hopefully a few friends later on. Don't want fertilized eggs going to my customers. So I had the idea that if I could buy or raise a hen to hatch eggs for me that would work best.

I thought I would purchase hatching eggs and stick them under the hen. Is that a crazy idea or would that work?

 

[rebelcowboysnb]

Lots of people do that. They keep a Cochin or Silkeys.

 

[Master S.M.C]

What your doing will work if the eggs are fertile, although you may get better results with an incubator.

 

[ghulst]

That would work if you have a source of good hatching eggs. One other concern is getting broodies when you want them . I Hatch all my show birds under broodies like I did when i was a kid.

 

[ThePolishPrincess]

If you're looking to hatch a smaller number of eggs, go ahead. I don't have a brooder and though I've only hatched two eggs before, I used my broody. All I needed to do was provide her with food and water and keep her away from the others. 20 days later, I had two beautiful babies.

Not a crazy idea. In fact, it keeps the hatch-a-halics in line.

 

[fowlafoot]

A good broody hen will beat an incubator hands down as long as she only has as many eggs as she can comfortably cover and is provided with a good nest. We use game hens, they have excellent broody instincts and are extremely protective caring mothers.

 

[fowlafoot]

Quote:

Unless you happen to have 80 game hens just waiting for an excuse to go broody

then your addiction can still be a problem!

 

[2468Chickensrgr8]

Thats what I did last May I bought 6 mutt eggs from someone local(looked on KIJIJI classifieds) I wanted green egg layers ...I did this when my Banty went broody and she did all the rest....5 out of the 6 hatched...3 survived...two were hawk lunch....so out of the three hens that she hatched out ...two lay green eggs and one lays a cream egg....plan on doing it again this spring...I have found a local breeder .

 

[rebelcowboysnb]

Quote:

Unless you happen to have 80 game hens just waiting for an excuse to go broody

then your addiction can still be a problem!

80 game hens??

Checking the yard.......... Yep, about that.

 

[ThePolishPrincess]

Quote:

Unless you happen to have 80 game hens just waiting for an excuse to go broody

then your addiction can still be a problem!

Quite frankly, I don't know anyone with that many hens, needless to say that many broody hens. A little flaw in my plan, but you know it helps more. The first step is always admitting you have a problem.