Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[OHfarmerswife]

how many eggs can you set under a large fowl hen?
Do they all have to be set on the same day?
I have more eggs coming that could be added 3 days later, will that work?

 

[fisherlady]

how many eggs can you set under a large fowl hen?
Do they all have to be set on the same day?
I have more eggs coming that could be added 3 days later, will that work?

Large fowl could handle 10-16 depending on the size of the eggs, size of the chicken and even the temperature. Colder weather--fewer eggs and warmer weather--more. That is just because the hen doesn't have as much trouble keeping the 'edge eggs' warm.
I would stay fewer on a new broody also. just because some new mothers do well, and others not so much. So giving them 8-12 to keep track of instead of 16 can improve their chance of doing well with the hatch and little ones.

Use caution in placing eggs over multiple days. It causes a 'staggered hatch' and can result in problems because the new mom is torn between staying on the eggs which still need to hatch and getting up with the newly hatched to show them food and water, etc. Although newly hatched chicks can go up to 3 days without food/water you would be pushing the limits on it. I don't know how the 'second group' would be received by the first group either... they would be smaller and weaker and may be have trouble with the broody leaving the nest with the first group and leaving them more exposed to cold. and if the 'second group' is of a different breed that is smaller in size then the problems may be amplified.
Also consider your coop set up when weighing factors on staggered hatches. If you have an area with easy/close access to food and water so the broody can remain on the nest and the chicks can safely run around and get to food and water you have a much better chance at being successful with the staggered hatch. If your broody is in an elevated nest box or otherwise difficult access area then I would definitely consider that another mark against staggering your hatches.
If your flock is peaceful and has been good with babies before then that is also a plus when weighing in your factors.

ETA... if you do decide to do a staggered hatch then be prepared with a back up incubator method in case mama hen abandons the nest once she takes the first group out of the nest.

 

[stevhoff]

THanks for the response Perchie girl,I'll look up Peepsca.Yeah I know about the game bird starter.I'd hate to through away the 7 eggs I have under the hen now.Do you think taking those eggs and putting them in an incubator would work?

 

[OHfarmerswife]

Large fowl could handle 10-16 depending on the size of the eggs, size of the chicken and even the temperature.  Colder weather--fewer eggs and warmer weather--more.  That is just because the hen doesn't have as much trouble keeping the 'edge eggs' warm.
I would stay fewer on a new broody also. just because some new mothers do well, and others not so much.  So giving them 8-12 to keep track of instead of 16 can improve their chance of doing well with the hatch and little ones.

Use caution in placing eggs over multiple days.  It causes a 'staggered hatch' and can result in problems because the new mom is torn between staying on the eggs which still need to hatch and getting up with the newly hatched to show them food and water, etc.  Although newly hatched chicks can go up to 3 days without food/water you would be pushing the limits on it.  I don't know how the 'second group' would be received by the first group either... they would be smaller and weaker and may be have trouble with the broody leaving the nest with the first group and leaving them more exposed to cold.   and if the 'second group' is of a different breed that is smaller in size then the problems may be amplified.
 Also consider your coop set up when weighing factors on staggered hatches.  If you have an area with easy/close access to food and water so the broody can remain on the nest and the chicks can safely run around and get to food and water you have a much better chance at being successful with the staggered hatch. If your broody is in an elevated nest box or otherwise difficult access area then I would definitely consider that another mark against staggering your hatches.
 If your flock is peaceful and has been good with babies before then that is also a plus when weighing in your factors.

ETA... if you do decide to do a staggered hatch then be prepared with a back up incubator method in case mama hen abandons the nest once she takes the first group out of the nest.

thanks for the info. Here is my delima I set 7 eggs Wed with a new broody. I have 9 eggs that will be here on Sat. Can I take the 7 & put in an incubator, & then set the 9 new egg under the broody?
Also I am pretty sure one of the 7 has a crack, I can see it.

 

[perchie.girl]

THanks for the response Perchie girl,I'll look up Peepsca.Yeah I know about the game bird starter.I'd hate to through away the 7 eggs I have under the hen now.Do you think taking those eggs and putting them in an incubator would work?

Of course if you have an incubator toss em in there....

deb

 

[fisherlady]

thanks for the info. Here is my delima I set 7 eggs Wed with a new broody. I have 9 eggs that will be here on Sat. Can I take the 7 & put in an incubator, & then set the 9 new egg under the broody?
Also I am pretty sure one of the 7 has a crack, I can see it.

Yep, that should work fine. Lots of folks swap eggs and new hatched chicks back and forth between a broody and incubator. Luckily hens can't keep track of time and they don't know what their chicks are supposed to look like! LOL

I would make sure the new eggs are warmed to 'room temp' at least before you swap them out, so the hen doesn't get a shock of cool eggs all at once though. So after the 9 eggs sit to settle for you then place them in a room with decent temp for a few hours to let them come up to temp.

 

[rebecuna]

My broody who hatched 3 chicks last week is out in the yard with them all day today-- they walk around and pick at the dirt and grass, and then she sits down and they scoot under her, then in 10 minutes they get up and do it again in a different spot. The rest of my flock is in the yard and keeping a respectful distance (much improved from before the hatch and they would peck her whenever she came out from her isolated nest). Should I try to have her nest tonight in the regular coop or is it still too risky and I should wait a week or so? (She's been sleeping in a different place every night in the shed she's in for brooding, so I don't even know if I could make her).

Thought I would update my own post... my broody made this decision for me. She had absolutely no interest in going back in that shed. She spent the entire day outside in the yard with the babies, and in late afternoon brought them over to where the other hens were dust bathing and joined the party-- I thought that was brave of her. The other hens don't seem to pay her any mind, but are a little curious about the chicks sometimes. No bad behavior

That evening mama went into the coop and up the ramp to where the roost is, and hopped in the nest box. She was somewhat distressed when the babies didn't follow (the ramp is way too steep for them) and repeated this scene a few more times hoping she could convince them to follow, before finally settling in the lower level of the ark coop on the bare dirt for the night. This has been the case for the last 2 nights, and everyone seems to be doing fine. I guess she wanted back in with her sisters!

 

[kannna]

Thought I would update my own post... my broody made this decision for me. She had absolutely no interest in going back in that shed. She spent the entire day outside in the yard with the babies, and in late afternoon brought them over to where the other hens were dust bathing and joined the party-- I thought that was brave of her. The other hens don't seem to pay her any mind, but are a little curious about the chicks sometimes. No bad behavior

That evening mama went into the coop and up the ramp to where the roost is, and hopped in the nest box. She was somewhat distressed when the babies didn't follow (the ramp is way too steep for them) and repeated this scene a few more times hoping she could convince them to follow, before finally settling in the lower level of the ark coop on the bare dirt for the night. This has been the case for the last 2 nights, and everyone seems to be doing fine. I guess she wanted back in with her sisters!

I usually put a medium dog crate in the run with some shavings in it and the door removed. The broody and babies stay in there at night until the chicks can get up the ramp. Gives them some walls and some shavings to cuddle in.

 

[kannna]

how many eggs can you set under a large fowl hen?
Do they all have to be set on the same day?
I have more eggs coming that could be added 3 days later, will that work?

My Betty (avatar) usually sticks with 10. I'll give her 14 or so and she'll kick out the ones she doesn't like. But the last three hatches with her, she has stuck with 10. However she is huge, so it depends on how large your large fowl hen really is.

 

[anniesmom]

Sorry if this has been asked before. I have a broody Legbar who was sitting on 7 eggs. I happened to catch her this morning when she was off the nest, peeked in and now there are only 6. I assume one broke and she cleaned it up. A couple of the eggs have a bit of goo on them.. The nesting material is a bit yucky, though. She is on day 19. Is it too big of a risk at this point to try and put some clean shavings in the nest? I sure don't want her abandoning the eggs at this point. I'd rather have the babies have fairly clean bedding when they hatch.
Thanks.