How many eggs for 8 hens?

[Rabid Rooster]

How many eggs would you incubate if you wanted to add 8 hens to a flock? I imagine it would be between 16-24 but I'd love to hear from some of the more experienced hatchers

 

[Puddin Fluff]

Let the chicken math begin!

I want to know the answer to this one!

 

[Rabid Rooster]

I thought this was a fair and reasonable question.

 

[BantamLover21]

It really depends on the quality and fertility of the eggs being incubated, and the success of the incubator. With weaker (Sebrights, for example) or less-likely to be fertile (Wyandottes, for example) breeds, I would set about 16 eggs and hope for at least half to hatch. But if there is good fertility within the breed/group of birds, or the breed is hardy, you could set 8-9 eggs. I've have 100% of hardy, fertile eggs hatch before under proper conditions.

Of course, there is not telling whether the eggs that hatched would be female. While the male/female ration is usually about 50/50, it varies a lot. I've had almost all-hen hatches, and almost all-rooster hatches, as well as exactly 50/50 hatches.

 

[Rabid Rooster]

Put 38 eggs in the incubator, l will report back the results

 

[chickenlver2013]

Not to brag or anything, but my chickens always produce females. I wonder why? I barely get any boys.

 

[HickoryHollow]

Not to brag or anything, but my chickens always produce females. I wonder why? I barely get any boys.

curious.....what breed? How many hens, and how many roosters?

 

[chickenlver2013]

curious.....what breed? How many hens, and how many roosters?

Rocks-10
Sex-Links-8
Buffs-3
Welsummer-3
Silkie-2
Games-2
Easter Egger-4
Dominique-9
Brahma-1
Sussex-6
Tetra Tint-2

50 hens/pullets my only rooster died. He was a very female producing rooster.