Having hen incubate?

[rubyrogue]

I am getting some laying hens this week. They are about a year old. I would like to add some more to the flock but dont want to have them in the house. Can i get some hatching eggs and put them under one of my hens? Will she care for them so I dont have to do the whole brooder thing?

 

[Kittymomma]

A hen has to be broody before she will set on or care for eggs. Some breeds are more likely to go broody then others and some breeds (statistically) never will try to brood. A hormonal change signals the hen to start brooding and there's not much you can do to get them to do it on your schedule. They will or they won't and if they do it will be when their body tells them too, which is not often when you want them to. What kinds of birds will you be getting?