Hens sitting on eggs

[schoebel_taylor]

I have about a 1 year old hen who is laying eggs in a nest box. How many eggs will it take before she starts incubating them? I do have a rooster and im pretty sure the eggs are fertile. They are rhode island reds.

 

[azelgin]

Quote:
Going broody has nothing to do with the number of eggs under a hen, it is a hormonal change that takes place. Some breeds never go broody. There is no way to tell when, or if, she will go broody (as far as Ive been told) until it happens. I'd start collecting the eggs and using them. The fertility starts to drop off after a week, so you are just letting them go to waste right now.

 

[schoebel_taylor]

How do you know if a chicken is going broody?

 

[azelgin]

Quote:
You'll know it when you see it. They never leave the nest and sound like an evil, possesed, fluffy angry pancake that bites.

 

[77horses]

Quote:
Before your hen goes broody, you should know this by now!

LOL Please do some research before letting your girl go broody. Look at this website(below). It has lots of helpful info!
http://www.themodernhomestead.us/article/Broody-Hens-1.html

Good luck!

 

[schoebel_taylor]

Thank You!

 

[DukeDawg528]

I have never had a hen to not set on her eggs...some of my hens went broody on 24 eggs and I have had a couple go broody on 4 eggs...

 

[schoebel_taylor]

Wow..Im glad to here that. I want my hen to get some more chicks.. Thank you