Hi Chicken friends,
Due to zoning restrictions & someone else's nasty neighbor, I have acquired five ( lost two during the long rough winter to predators). So I now have three chickens; two hens, a cute red one, "Red", and one with dark ringed neck who I call "Dark Star". I also have a beast of a rooster, who is somewhat broken (a rooster whisperer is a talent new to me). His name is "Yeti", pronounced Yeah-teh' , he's a silkie.
I would like to hatch eggs. From the information I have gathered I have some questions. Does the chicken have to sit constantly on the eggs for the full 21 days or for 48 hours. Has anyone heard of chickens sharing the broody role? e.g., it appears that all three of the birds are rotating care of the eggs. All are very careful around the eggs they all take turns; rotating, counting, turning, and sitting on the eggs although it is the rooster that sleeps on them. They are not aggressive with me (with the exception of an occasional outburst from yeti, who needs to be reminded who is in charge), but after I clean the coop, they go and do a quick egg check. I'm concerned because they are not sitting on them all the time. Is this a problem?
Due to zoning restrictions & someone else's nasty neighbor, I have acquired five ( lost two during the long rough winter to predators). So I now have three chickens; two hens, a cute red one, "Red", and one with dark ringed neck who I call "Dark Star". I also have a beast of a rooster, who is somewhat broken (a rooster whisperer is a talent new to me). His name is "Yeti", pronounced Yeah-teh' , he's a silkie.
I would like to hatch eggs. From the information I have gathered I have some questions. Does the chicken have to sit constantly on the eggs for the full 21 days or for 48 hours. Has anyone heard of chickens sharing the broody role? e.g., it appears that all three of the birds are rotating care of the eggs. All are very careful around the eggs they all take turns; rotating, counting, turning, and sitting on the eggs although it is the rooster that sleeps on them. They are not aggressive with me (with the exception of an occasional outburst from yeti, who needs to be reminded who is in charge), but after I clean the coop, they go and do a quick egg check. I'm concerned because they are not sitting on them all the time. Is this a problem?
! 
and Welcome To BYC! You've gotten some good advice/ links above. X3 It doesn't sound like your girls are really broody yet, especially if the rooster is the one sleeping in the nesting box. (You are sure he is a rooster?). There are several good articles on broody hens in the Learning Center you might want to check out 
