Mothering Chickens

[johncheri]

One of my chickens, my leghorn, seems to want to hatch a chick. She just sits on the other eggs all day and night. I go in there and take all the eggs out and she will leave for awhile to eat but then she goes back in the nesting box. I feel like I should get her a fertilized egg for her to sit on and hatch. I have three chickens. Any thoughts about that? I'm new to this.

 

[angel8035]

Leghorns are not typically big on hatching chicks. You could try it but keep in mind that you are likely to hatch a rooster. Also, chicks are happier when there are more than one, so it is best to incubate several eggs at a time in case some of them don't hatch or don't survive.

 

[johncheri]

Thank you. I think my Daisy is different from most leghorns. When she first started laying, she was doing the same thing. She seems to be very determined to sit on the eggs. Maybe she has Spring fever.

 

[RoostersCrow HensDeliver!]

I had 5 broody sex-links this summer alone and last summer had a Black sex-link hatch a batch of chicks so its not impossible. Keep in mind that its roughly a 50/50 % chance for boys. My broody BSL hatched 4 roos out of 5 chicks

 

[johncheri]

Thank you. I'll just let her be. I can't have a rooster in Alameda and with my luck if I let her hatch and egg, it would be a boy. She'll get over it.

 

[chickengirl2014]

I cant wait to get broodies