Hens brooding

[bobbi-j]

I bought four year old laying hens. The woman who sold them had thirty or so, Plymouth rock and white lace chickens. One of the hens I got was sitting on eggs. The woman also gave me some of the eggs. I put them in their nesting box. The hen has been sitting on them at times. Should I take them out or wait to see if they hatch ? Also how can I tell when they lay regular eggs in the boxes compared to the ones she's sitting on ?

OK, let me see if I read this right. You bought four one-year old laying hens, or you bought 4-year old laying hens? One of them was sitting on eggs (broody)? She has been setting on these eggs day and night? That sounds like she's broody. How long have you had her that she's been on the eggs? How long was she setting before you got her? It takes approximately 21 days for eggs to hatch. If you've had her for more than, say, 25 days and nothing has happened, I'd take the eggs and dispose of them. If you've had her less than 21 days, I'd let her be if you want her to hatch the eggs.

I see now that you said she's sitting on them "at times". What does that mean, exactly? And are the other hens laying in the same nest? If you haven't marked the ones she's setting on, it's going to be hard to tell what's what. More details would be helpful.

 

[seuferer]

I have rhode island red hens and one rooster. I really would like one of my girls to hatch a clutch of eggs. I know Pete has "serviced" them all. It did not occur to me to separate a hen with a batch of eggs. Is there a time of year it is best to try this? We live in Iowa, planting zone 4, it is just starting to be consistently warm. So far, all I've done is leave one clutch of eggs alone. Someone dug a basin in the dirt floor of our shed-turned coop and started laying there, so I thought to leave that clutch alone & only gather from the actual nesting boxes. That backfired. All the girls started laying in the dirt bowl. :/ I write the date layer in pencil on the shell and gather the older eggs when the clutch exceeds 20. So far no brooding.

I have one Americana remaining from my original brood. She still lays most days. Can input a few of her green eggs in the mix, assuming I ever get a girl to sit? She's over 2 years old, and my only rooster is the Rhode Island red. Is she probably too old to be fertile? Will her babies lay green shelled eggs?

 

[mymilliefleur]

RIR are not known for going broody, so it's unlikely that one will start sitting.

Your ''Americana'' is probably an Easter Egger, and her eggs should still be fertile, I've hatched chicks off of hens much older then that. Her chicks might lay green eggs, it's hard to tell for sure without knowing her genetic backround.

 

[seuferer]

Ah, darn. I didn't know that about the RIR. I have 2 barred rocks and one hen that is all black, I can't recall her breed. Maybe one of the girls might be coaxed to sit? Every spring, I've just bought a handful of pulleys from the farm store, but last fall a friend gave me a Rooster and I thought I'd try letting a hen hatch some. I have 2 friends with similar free range girls who "lost" a hen, and when she came home 3 weeks later, she had a batch of little yellow chick's in line. We have the space and enjoy our little flock. One of those friends butchers for meat and offered to teach me if/when I have the flock to support it.

I'll keep learning and try making a more secluded nesting area and see what happens.

Thanks for the advice!