hatching

[dandydoodle]

I am hoping to order eggs in a week. I have a five old Buff Orpington that I think might like to go broody. I take their eggs out every morning though. If she would like to go broody if I left their eggs in instead of taking them out would she go broody. I am planning to purchase a bator but, I read it is better for the chicks if they are hatched by a chicken. Any thoughts?

Thanks

 

[midget_farms]

You can tell if she is broody because she will nip at you when you go for the eggs & she will not leave the nest.

So - if you check in the morning & she is in there & you come back in the afternoon & she is still in there its a good sign.

Its still a good idea to keep a bator as a back up - sometimes a new mother hen will get bored with the idea right around the end & you may need to rescue them.

But - baring that - she should do a great job of raising the chicks - just keep food & water close to her & stuff as many eggs as she will hold under there!

 

[dandydoodle]

She seems to be kind of protective of the box she lays her eggs in. She doesn't stay in it all the time. I am wondering if the fact that I take away the eggs every morning by 11:00 AM is keeping her from going broody. Would it be a good idea to leave her some eggs?

Thanks

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[tigercreek]

Why not leave some fake eggs in with her? Golf balls will work too. If she will set them, she'll set eggs. ..........stan

 

[sonjab314]

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[CapricornFarm]

I read that you should keep a broody hen in a pen by herself so the other chickens won't bother her or the chicks if you are going to let her raise them. I think it must be better for the chicks, because I also read that they don't get pasty butt if they are raised by a broody. But I am so busy building other pens right now, I just take the chicks when they hatch. Hope that helps