i need info on broody hens and hatching eggs

[Roooisin]

my broody hen is sitting on 10 eggs at the moment and i have a few questions for those of you who know about this sort of stuff..

1. what are the chances of all 10 hatching and surviving?

2. is it ok to let her with the rest of the flock while the chicks are hatching?

3. is it ok to put two broody hens beside one another but in two separate laying boxes when trying to hatch eggs?

4. will the mother hen be very protective of her chicks after they hatch? i.e will i be able to pick them up and hold them?

i would appriciate all of your advice and tips because it's my first time and im not too sure of what i'm doing.

 

[woodprairie]

1. In my experience a hen does much better than an incubator. Always humbling to see a hen with 2 brain cells out perform an expensive incubator and a college education.
2. is she in a protected spot? just watch them.
3. I've had 2 banties share a nest and hatch a brood together and care for them together.
4. Depends on the hen. some are murderously protective, some are only moderately. They generally don't break the skin though.
the chicks have a very good survival rate too, when left with Mom. So perfect to see them out foraging together.

BTW, you don't need to know what you're doing, the hen does.

 

[Roooisin]

Quote:
2. she's in a laying box in the back of the coop.. do you think she'll be safe there? and hopefully these hens know what they're doing because i dont really..