My first Sumatra egg! Some questions if I may?

[Browning2013]

Got a pair of 8 month old Sumatra's last week. Got a surprise egg today which had to come from the sumatra hen. The white hen I have had since summer hasn'tlaid yet and this egg was found today in the carrier I brought the sumatra's home in. The white hen has not went in it at all. She actually avoids it lol.

My question's are:

1. This hen and rooster were in a mixed breed coop, so I'd rather discard eggs until I can be sure it is the sumatra rooster that bred her. Is there a time frame that n I need to wait for to ensure this?

2. Does it need to be a certain temp outside before a hen will go broody and start sitting on eggs? Mine(rooster and two hens) free range all day and it's still chilly here in Ohio.

3. How long are eggs good for if left in the nest before she starts sitting on them? I have read I will be lucky to get an egg per week out of her, and am wondering if they will still be good once she's got enough to sit on?

4. How many eggs are typical during a brood for a sumatra hen?

I think that's it for now. Thanks every one. Oh, and here's the first egg I have gotten from her, and a pic of the queen herself.

 

[sumi]

1. This hen and rooster were in a mixed breed coop, so I'd rather discard eggs until I can be sure it is the sumatra rooster that bred her. Is there a time frame that n I need to wait for to ensure this?

It usually takes about 3 to 4 weeks to clean out a hen. If you let the rooster mate with her after 2 weeks, his sperm will more likely fertilise her eggs, instead of the older sperm she may still have stored.

2. Does it need to be a certain temp outside before a hen will go broody and start sitting on eggs? Mine(rooster and two hens) free range all day and it's still chilly here in Ohio.

I've had hens go broody in the middle of winter, though she is more likely to go broody during the warmer months, I won't rule out a cold weather broody. She's unlikely to go broody until she's settled in at her new home, which could take awhile.

3. How long are eggs good for if left in the nest before she starts sitting on them? I have read I will be lucky to get an egg per week out of her, and am wondering if they will still be good once she's got enough to sit on?

Ideally no longer than 10 days, though I have had broodies hatch out eggs that was 14 days old prior to them starting incubation.

4. How many eggs are typical during a brood for a sumatra hen?

Give her as many as she can cover comfortably. My broodies usually collect a clutch of 12 before they start sitting.

 

[Browning2013]

1. This hen and rooster were in a mixed breed coop, so I'd rather discard eggs until I can be sure it is the sumatra rooster that bred her. Is there a time frame that n I need to wait for to ensure this?

It usually takes about 3 to 4 weeks to clean out a hen. If you let the rooster mate with her after 2 weeks, his sperm will more likely fertilise her eggs, instead of the older sperm she may still have stored.

2. Does it need to be a certain temp outside before a hen will go broody and start sitting on eggs? Mine(rooster and two hens) free range all day and it's still chilly here in Ohio.

I've had hens go broody in the middle of winter, though she is more likely to go broody during the warmer months, I won't rule out a cold weather broody. She's unlikely to go broody until she's settled in at her new home, which could take awhile.

3. How long are eggs good for if left in the nest before she starts sitting on them? I have read I will be lucky to get an egg per week out of her, and am wondering if they will still be good once she's got enough to sit on?

Ideally no longer than 10 days, though I have had broodies hatch out eggs that was 14 days old prior to them starting incubation.

4. How many eggs are typical during a brood for a sumatra hen?

Give her as many as she can cover comfortably. My broodies usually collect a clutch of 12 before they start sitting.

Wow thanks for typing that up and replying. I am only planning to let her sit on whatever eggs she lays herself, so I was hoping she would be able to put out a handful or so at least, but that seems like it just isn't possible.