Incubator vs. National Hatching

[chickenDesigner]

I have 4 Cochin hens that are actively laying. They were hatched in an incubator. I was told that seeing that they were incubator hatched, they would not set on their own eggs. Is this true? I am wanting to let them try since I heard Cochins are great setters. Thank you for any advice.

 

[Puddin Fluff]

I have 4 Cochin hens that are actively laying. They were hatched in an incubator. I was told that seeing that they were incubator hatched, they would not set on their own eggs. Is this true? I am wanting to let them try since I heard Cochins are great setters. Thank you for any advice.

How they were hatched has nothing to do with broody tendencies. Some breeds tend to be broodier than others but that is still not a guarantee. You will just have to wait and see. I have a cochin who has never set but she has offspring who have gone broody. Just depends on the bird. Good luck.

 

[chickenDesigner]

Thank you for this information. I'm just learning about "brooding" and I am going to start watching for this. I read about marking the eggs... watching for the ruffled feathers. I have 4 laying in one box so it will be hard for one to set on her own eggs. Yes there is 4 nesting boxes but they insist on laying in the same spot.

 

[DanEP]

I hatched a silver laced cochin bantam in my brinsea that went broody twice a year. Well I hatched 5 in that batch and 1 was broody twice a year, 1 once a year and 3 not at all.

 

[Puddin Fluff]

You will find there is always a "favorite" nest box. Sometimes which box it is changes, but generally you will find most like one box.