incubated eggs under broody hen

[chickilles]

I have a RIR hen that went broody for the first time yesterday and is now just sitting on a golf ball. I have 7 eggs in my homemade incubator on day 12. Can I put those eggs under her to finish or should I just give her some new ones from the other hens?

 

[Judy]

Either way. I'd probably wait a day or two to be sure she is really broody -- make sure she stays in the nest 24/7. While any breed can go broody, hatchery RIR's are not real likely to. If you got her from a breeder, she might be more likely to, though.

 

[chickilles]

Thanks Judy, she only hopped down for about 5 minutes yesterday to have a drink and a bite and not yet today, so I'll wait til bedtime tonight. Do I put the eggs under her or just lay them close and wait for her to arrange them?

 

[Judy]

I've always slid them under her, but she will arrange or rearrange them if she's going to accept them.