Natural Hatch Rates

[ECiesielczyk]

My broody hen just successfully hatched 9 out of 12 eggs. One died (stepped on maybe) but it only got half way out of the shell. The other two are still under her but when I held a flashlight up to them I didn't see anything (although not sure what I am looking for) so I am giving them another day or two.

Is 9 out of 12 a good hatch rate for a broody hen? What do other get?

 

[questions543]

Im also wondering this

 

[stuckinthecity]

I would say that's pretty good. In my broody hen experience, I've had about the same hatch rate. I've set 11 eggs under a silkie cross hen and she hatched 9. Under an EE hen I set 8 eggs (I think?) and she hatched 6; 1 died. If a hen can completely cover the eggs she's setting, you'll usually have a great hatch rate if the eggs are fertile. Poor hatch rates result when she can't cover all the eggs, some become unviable from the get-go, and then when she's turning the eggs, the "bad" eggs get rotated inwards, and viable eggs get rotated out and die. What breed is she? Congrats on the new chicks!

 

[bobbi-j]

My broody hatched out 4 of 13 eggs, but when I cracked the unhatched ones open I found that none of them had developed. So she did get a 100% hatch of her viable eggs. I think 9 for 12 is a good hatch.

 

[ECiesielczyk]

I would say that's pretty good. In my broody hen experience, I've had about the same hatch rate. I've set 11 eggs under a silkie cross hen and she hatched 9. Under an EE hen I set 8 eggs (I think?) and she hatched 6; 1 died. If a hen can completely cover the eggs she's setting, you'll usually have a great hatch rate if the eggs are fertile. Poor hatch rates result when she can't cover all the eggs, some become unviable from the get-go, and then when she's turning the eggs, the "bad" eggs get rotated inwards, and viable eggs get rotated out and die. What breed is she? Congrats on the new chicks!

She is a pure breed Maran. I believe she is a Golden Maran. She came from Mypetchicken and was part of 4 we received from the Rare Marans chicks. She is pretty big and from what I hear they go broody often. We had a fox attack and take all but 5 (one was injured and 3 were babies). She spent the night at the neighbors and when she made her way home, we kept them in the coop and run for a few days. As soon as she got back, she sat on the nest, alid an egg and that was it, she was broody. Maybe natures way of knowing when the flock needs some new chicks?

The hatching eggs we bought - 6 Sumarta and 6 mixed. If I can find the camera I will upload a pic

 

[stuckinthecity]

Would love to see a pic! She sounds very pretty and I bet those eggs of hers are too! And what a smart hen to move away from an attack and stay the night!