How do I help my hen hatch her own??

[chappers]

Hi folks, I have a trio of R I R and one hen has strated sitting her eggs, left her with an egg yesterday and need to know how long she will sit, how many eggs and when they will hatch. Never done this before. Cheers. x

 

[Schultz]

Hi and welcome!~
Congrats on your girl sitting. She can sit on several eggs, I have given mine as many as 10 and as few as 3 eggs in a nest. She may continue to lay eggs while sitting until she is happy with the amount of eggs in the nest. I usually mark the eggs and remove any new ones so I don't end up with unwanted chicks. Be careful, broody hens tend to be agressive. The eggs usually take 19-21 days to hatch. Good luck and I hope this helps!

 

[pixie74943]

How long can you leave the hatched chicks with the broody hen?

I keep hearing that you should take them away when they hit 3-6 weeks. Is this true??

 

[Lollipop]

Broody Hens;

http://www.themodernhomestead.us/article/Broody-Hens-1.html

 

[pixie74943]

Heaps good.

A thought though, letting Mama do it seems to say its okay for the broody to hatch the eggs and care for them in with the rest of the flock. That solves my first question.

Now onto food, I buy food, I dont have the time to work out mixing my own.

Can I supply my flock (of two) with starter feed while the chick is growing.

I expect this will mess with their egg laying cycle, but will it do any damage to their overall health and wellbeing?

Sorry For Hijacking your thread chappers

 

[chappers]

Well folks I'm not a granny!! had aproblem with Dad evicting old eggs in exchange for new ones so Dad got sent on holiday and left mum to hatch the kids. Unfortunately after I had given her a weeks extra grace (28 days) I decided that i had to interveen, used a very powerful torch and could see right through the eggs so broke them open and nothing but a somewhat tainted yellow yolk!! Thanks for the advice though people, I am going to try and get hold of some fertile eggs and let her sit them next year as Dad is on holiday forever!