Incubator VS. Chicken

[Newfarmer36]

I know if you incubate your eggs that you have to keep a close eye on the young once they've hatched? If a hen hatches them, do you still have to keep an eye on them or does the hen do that? I'm asking bc I have eggs in the coop that I was gonna leave for a hen. I'm not off work until May. (I work at a school) so I can't be here all day everyday to watch them and make sure they're ok. If I have to do that, then I'll take the eggs out. Thx

 

[Tiana's chickens]

It may be good to separate your broody hen from the rest of the chickens so she can raise them away from others who might bully the chicks. Usually broody hens are good at protecting their chicks though

 

[Plip]

That depends on several things including:

1. The hen. Some breeds are known for being great, protective, caring moms, while others tend to wander off once the eggs hatch. Individual hens are different, too, but you wouldn't have any way to know that yet.

2. The coop-mates. Do they tend to be aggressive? Who's in charge?

3. The coop itself. Is it crowded? Is the nest off by itself with plenty of privacy or right in the town (coop?) square? Is it secure from predators (even those that might not be able to take a full-grown hen)? Is it well-protected from the weather?

 

[Newfarmer36]

That depends on several things including:

1. The hen. Some breeds are known for being great, protective, caring moms, while others tend to wander off once the eggs hatch. Individual hens are different, too, but you wouldn't have any way to know that yet.

2. The coop-mates. Do they tend to be aggressive? Who's in charge?

3. The coop itself. Is it crowded? Is the nest off by itself with plenty of privacy or right in the town (coop?) square? Is it secure from predators (even those that might not be able to take a full-grown hen)? Is it well-protected from the weather?

I just got rid of my rooster that was aggressive. So I'm not sure who's boss yet. I suppose it is kind of crowded but there's a part in there where they have to walk through a door and go to the left to where the eggs are. And yes, it's weather proof. I made sure of that a couple of weeks ago. Here's a pic of the area that the chickens walk through to lay eggs. I circled where the eggs are. They're in that corner.

 

[Newfarmer36]

It may be good to separate your broody hen from the rest of the chickens so she can raise them away from others who might bully the chicks. Usually broody hens are good at protecting their chicks though

She's not broody yet. I thought that maybe if I left the eggs in there that that might make her want to sit on them .