How many babies can one mama handle?

[Lunawriter]

I have 7 eggs under a broody hen and 21 in an incubator all set to hatch at the same time (all in the incubator are growing--haven't candled the ones in the coop). In an ideal world I could give all the chicks to her after they hatch, but that's probably too much for a first time mama hen, right? How many could she handle do you think? She'll have the coop to herself until the chicks are big enough to join the flock (which will be within sight). What can I realistically expect from this chicken mama? How many should I just put in a brooder? Thanks.

 

[jujubean99]

I say between 8 and 12-ish, but I have never given a hen more than 7 just because I had to split up the chicks (all of my hens want to be mama's) and once you introduce them to the mama you can always spend some time chicken watching and just see what is going on. You can usually tell what her mommy-ing capacity is if you spend a little time watching her with her chicks

good luck!

 

[Lunawriter]

Thanks, Jujubean! I guess I'll be the mama to the others.

Hope she's as good a mama as she is a broody!