I've got an idea - has anyone done this?

[McGoo]

I've got 2 broody hens and they've been sitting for one week. I now have another broody hen and.... I"m wondering if I can take a few of the eggs from the others and give them to her and see if she'll accept them and continue the process for the 14 more days.

So basically I'm taking already developing eggs and putting them under a new momma. Does it work? Guess it's based on hen?

 

[TurkeyMountainChickens]

Theoretically, it would work. But it seems risky to me. What if the new hen doesn't accept them? What if she turns out not to be a very good broody?

If you've got a hen that is already sitting tight on the eggs, I would leave them where they are. Maybe you could find a few more fertile eggs for the new hen to try?

 

[McGoo]

I know what you're saying, but then the hatch times would be off and I didn't want that to happen. Maybe I can see how well she does for a couple of days and do a switch?

 

[McGoo]

What if I gave her a few eggs to start and then if she was sitting well, swapped a few. Anyone done this?