Incubator or Broody hen?

[poultry person]

Have the girls been broody before?
Do they stick to it like white on rice?

You can certainly give it a try but if they aren't serious about incubating eggs they may quit part way through. A hen incubating eggs will get off the nest for a time every day to eat and poop, don't let that worry you as long as they go back. Incubation is 21 days, they probably won't leave the nest the last 2-3 days.

Only one out of all of them has gone broody before and she was very serious about it , but the ones that haven't are a little younger.

 

[Mckennas poultry]

Only one out of all of them has gone broody before and she was very serious about it , but the ones that haven't are a little younger.

If she was serious about it I’d say she’d have no problems
If you only want one to sit on eggs I’d have her on them

 

[poultry person]

If she was serious about it I’d say she’d have no problems
If you only want one to sit on eggs I’d have her on them

Ok, I just have to watch out though if you open the nesting box door while she's broody she fluffs up like a turkey!

 

[JaeG]

I love broodies doing all the hard work (I'd love to indulge my girls a lot more than I can at the moment). If she's a friendly hen she'll teach her babies your visits are something to look forward to. Just watch her around hatch time to ensure she accepts the chicks and doesn't just want to sit on eggs (I have one like that), and have a heat lamp on hand in case you need to set up a brooder, just in case. But most broody hens know what to do and excel at being mothers.

 

[bruceha2000]

Ok, I just have to watch out though if you open the nesting box door while she's broody she fluffs up like a turkey!

PERFECT!

 

[dunnmom]

I set a broody with hatching eggs for the very first time yesterday. I was just happy not to have to break her, but I understand it can spread.

 

[Miss717]

I vote both. I've had chickens since 2009 or so and have had broodies hatch out chicks. I decided to get a small incubator just to see if I was able to hatch out my own eggs. Once I was successful with my own eggs I purchased some fertile eggs off of eBay which are in my incubator right now.

 

[chickengeorgeto]

Only you can decide which option is right for you. You'll never hatch and raise the number of chicks naturally that you can in an incubator and brooder but this method is work and it is not for the lazy or recommended for the faint of heart.

 

[chubbchubb7]

So adding to this thread here but I am picking up some broody silkies today for the mere fact I want them to hatch my eggs. How long should I leave the eggs before picking them up? I want them to lay their own fertile eggs too.