How many chicks can one hen raise successfully?

[the4heathernsmom]

Ok experienced chicken folks....I would like to know the largest number of chicks your hens have been able to raise successfully. I have broodies everywhere and would like to just go ahead and take the hatchlings from the bator and give to them to raise for me but I am uncertain of how many I could get away with. The most I have experience with is 11 chicks to one hen. Please share your thoughts and photos and I have large breed hens. Thanks!

 

[sumi]

I've never let mine raise more than 12 chicks at a time. But if the hens are big you could slip in a few more. Just make sure they can fit them all in under them comfortably with a little room to spare for when the chicks grow bigger.

 

[Fancychooklady]

11 is the most mine have raised naturally. They usually loose a few even then, because the more chicks they have the more prone to predators they are.

 

[annanimal]

I had a big hen raise 14 chicks but she was really big so they all fit under her fine, i dont have any pictures, sorry...

 

[the4heathernsmom]

yes thank you I am thinking 12 might be the maximum

 

[annanimal]

Yeah, I think that is a good idea!
How many broodies do you have?

 

[coloradojen]

Hi, my friends in Cottageville, SC just discovered one of their hens with 15 chicks! All are healthy and colorful. We are guessing they are a week or under and they are just adorable. The mom is 8 months old, hatched from one of their first hens.

I wanted to attach a picture but it gives me a message that I don't have permission to create attachments. I wanted to show the different colors.

 

[Geep]

My Wyandotte is raising 12 right now out of the incubator and all seems fine.

 

[UThobbyfarmer]

I had a bantam raise 14! And she would continue to steal any eggs layed around her and add them to the clutch! She had 4 extra-large regular eggs plus her 14 bantam sized eggs before I caught onto that one.

 

[UThobbyfarmer]

Here they are all under her. Only 1 pair of little legs poking out.