New to hatching using the Broody Hen method.

[JennaWisconsin]

I hope I don't sound to silly in this post, but I have questions and I know you all will help me answer them. First of all I will say that I have 5 mixed hens that are extremely broody, 3 of which have already laid and hatched a few chicks of their own. I now have 2 hens that won't leave the nesting boxes but they don't have eggs under them. Can I take eggs that have been laid by my other hens and place them under my girls??
I have only ever bought day old chicks or had chickens given to me and my chicken addiction has only just begun. I am new to the chicken world and everyday I learn something new. I am positive my eggs are all fertile I see my roosters and hens breeding constantly. How long can an egg sit out without a hen on it before it becomes infertile??
Thanks in advance!!!

 

[sourland]

Hens don't know which eggs are theirs, so yes, you can give them eggs from your other hens. Mark the eggs so that if your other hens add eggs to the clutch you can identify and remove them. I have hatched eggs that were as old as 21 days, but most recommend setting eggs that are less than 10 days old. Good luck with your broodies.

 

[CAjerseychick]

Short answer is yes Of course (newbie here too but just hatched out 4 chicks, and am pretty sure half the clutch wasnt even the hens and she switched off with another broody til lockdown and then came back and sat tight til Hatch)...
Just take some fresh eggs and put them under your Broodies, they dont "trigger" (start developing embryos til a hen keeps them warm for a couple days and if you put new eggs under them same time, then they will hatch same time)....
SOmeone else said they can be stored in a cool place for up to 14 days (I wouldnt personally do it past a few days, if you did nt have to) until you have enough for a clutch to put under your broodies....

 

[JennaWisconsin]

Thanks everyone! Now maybe someone can give me an idea of what my hens might be lol they are black with a bit more feathers on top of their heads. They are excellent mamas but not fabulous layers. I got them for free and I'm sure they are mixed.

 

[lambie333]

Thanks for asking, one of our EE hens just went broody, so I want to follow your thread too - this is the first time for us, we've just had these chickens since November...I thought she was sick or egg bound but I went to check on her and she puffed up and pecked my hand. I'm trying to figure out how to check her eggs, and maybe add some more. Also wondering how soon I really need to move her to her own space - she's in one of the 6 nesting boxes she shares with her 7 pals and 1 roo, I saw another hen in the same box with her today.

 

[lambie333]

I also just found this useful article from another thread...
http://www.themodernhomestead.us/article/Broody-Hens-1.html

 

[JennaWisconsin]

I left my hens in with everyone else and they are such great mamas nobody will mess with their babies. I do let my chickens free range though so they have lots of space to be away from the other birds. The other day one of the chicks was actually hanging out with one of my roosters while mama was at the feeder . I am lucky to say I don't have any aggressive birds towards chicks I have been able to introduce all my chicks from this spring very easily.

 

[CAjerseychick]

I left my hens in with everyone else and they are such great mamas nobody will mess with their babies. I do let my chickens free range though so they have lots of space to be away from the other birds. The other day one of the chicks was actually hanging out with one of my roosters while mama was at the feeder

. I am lucky to say I don't have any aggressive birds towards chicks I have been able to introduce all my chicks from this spring very easily.

Just wondering-- to compare experiences-- my broody (chicks are on day5) doesnt go into coop at night ( I put her back in day 2 but she went out the next am and is nesting in straw in a covered area next to the coop-- its built under our porch ramp)...
Do you have any idea if she will eventually move back into coop on her own? The coop and run area are built up against the back of the house/garage so its pretty protected (the fence has a gap under it -- the chickens go out thru the brambles and free range every day on our 2 acres)...
The Broody has been sitting tight with her babies under her the last 2 days-- it has been raining hard though.... Today I showed the babies the dog crate (she was sitting next to it when I came out this AM) with the crumbles and chick waterer in it and they ran and drank and ate ! they were hungry and thirsty. Now she is nested in a corner of the (wire) dog crate I put a blanket over one end for that nest box feel.... The door is open ...

 

[JennaWisconsin]

My thoughts are mom knows best. Maybe the chicks can't get in coop?? I'm sure you have a ramp but maybe they can't get up it yet. Also do you have nesting boxes on the ground in the coop? I have some especially for mamas with small babies. I just had a hen hatch out 4 chicks over the wknd and I moved her and the chicks to ground level which she then brought them outside. When I went out last night she was sitting next to coop so I helped her and chicks in. I wouldn't worry too much if I were you she will keep them warm and safe. I raised lots of chicks that I bought and having broody hens that raise their own is by far the easiest and best way in my opinion

 

[lambie333]

Sooo, it has been about 24 days now, since our hen decided to sit on a nest of eggs. We left her alone in her nesting box for the first 2 and a half weeks, and during that time had a number of hens sharing her box, so I expected a staggered hatch, but, I thought we would have a chick by now, but we peeked under her today, and nothing. We moved her into a small dog carrier about a week ago in the middle of the night, and she settled right back on the nest. What could have gone wrong? Also looking for advice, she sat so long, I hate to just pull them out and shoo her back into the woods. She did get off the nest today for a minute to stretch and eat, and my understanding is that she would have been in lockdown by now? I thought she was giving up, but I checked about 30 minutes later and she was back there on the nest.