Natural hatching question

[soap&eggs]

some of my very best broodies are plain ol' cross bred mutts... they decide if and when they go broody. i have one who i have to watch closely..she leaves nest 2-3 days before hatch is due...so i either best have another broody or incubator set up.....tell tail signs is not leaving nest for few days..growling..lol..like a junk yard dog !! defending her nest from any hand trying to remove eggs. and some run around cluckin and growling few days before actually setting ...each breed / bird is different. by watching your own youll know when its time...some breeds never go broody at all...good luck.

 

[write2caroline]

I had a hen hatch out some eggs. She sat on everyones favorite laying spot and on the last day I moved her to a broodie pen and that night she hatched those babies. If I were to do it again, I would have moved her sooner. I tried to break her broodiness 4 times before relenting and allowing her to sit. The babies hatched a day earlier than I anticipated.

Good luck
Caroline

 

[nuttyredhead]

I have 2 broodies right now. First time for me. One is in a dog crate, the other is in the nesting box. She refused to leave. The other chickens were laying in the nest, but she must have set them straight. They are laying in the other boxes now!