Ochochicos has given some good advice. I have some things to add from my experiences: 1) Unless you can add the eggs immediately so there is no more than 24 hour lag for hatching, I would not add any more as you will get a staggered hatch...and that is not good to do as the mom will usually get up with the first chicks after a day or two and not wait for the later eggs to hatch...or will ignore the chicks who need food/water after day 2 to stay with the hatching eggs. 2) I like to use pine shavings instead of hay, but no matter what you use it WILL clog the water. I use the chick feeder/waterer and place it on a flat block of wood.preferably in a corner so that it can't be tipped over but is high enough so the bedding can't be kicked in so easily. If I have to, I use a bungee cord to secure the water. 3) Agree candling is a preference not a necessity. Candle at day 5 is a good time to see if any are developing...when trying to candle dark Marans eggs, day 5 is about the ONLY time I can see much of anything unless you have a very bright light. I just use a cheap Dollar Store LED flashlight, cup the egg in your hand, shine light from below. You need to be in total dark for it to work well, so I go out to the coop and candle right at the coop door at night. Do not worry about candling after day 10 or so, and definitely try not to disturb around day 18...sometimes you can get an early hatch and you don't want to handle the eggs within 48 hours of hatching as it is important for the chick to be in the proper position inside the egg. 4) That's cute. Forgive me, but as to my chicks...they ALWAYS climb through any hole they can find and NEVER figure out a way to get back to mom. They are typical children, and bird brains at that. I use bird netting or rubbermaid shelf lining (the weave kind), or anything else to block up the holes. I do a perimeter check before every hatch. It is not fun trying to get a chick out of a weird predicament when they've climbed into some odd place and can't get out. 5) Totally depends on your flock dynamics and the personality and pecking order of your broody hen. Laid back flocks, assertive hen, safe yard, you can introduce very early. Dominant flock, lowly broody, hawk and other predators, you may need to let the chicks grow up a lot more before it is safe for them and the broody. 6) Depends on the hen. Usually by day 23 or so if the eggs haven't hatched (sometimes earlier if you know its a bust, depending on the hen), and you've candled to see there is nothing going to hatch, then most (but not all) broody hens will eagerly accept fosters. Hatching eggs doesn't mean your hen will be a good mother let alone a good foster mother. While most hens are willing, be aware that feed store fosters often have already imprinted and acclimated to a heat lamp brooder and may fear the big hen. Get the absolute youngest chicks you can find...day old is best...right from the delivery box better...You will have to watch closely in case it doesn't go well. I like to load them up with electrolytes/water since they've already had a hard trip being shipped. Then introduce to the hen. Remove the eggs, then cupping the chick in my hand so the hen can't see it, place it gently but quickly under her tail and into the little "alcove" she creates between her legs so she can't peck at you and hit the chick. I would only get 2 or 3 chicks at most since this is her and your first time. Typically the brave chicks will graft quickly to the hen, but the shyer chicks may not. They may get confused and crawl out and run from her. During cool weather they can chill quickly as they hang back afraid. Don't assume that they will stay under the hen once placed there. You will have to keep checking on them every few hours to make sure no one has tumbled out or gotten bumped out and is huddled in a corner cold. (which is why I like to graft during the day rather than late at night so I don't have to stay up late watching...many hens are fine with grafting in the day, and it can help with transition stress for the chicks so they don't have yet another transition in a short time.) If need be, keep replacing chicks under the tail until they seem to get the idea, always being careful the hen cannot peck them when she goes after you (she thinks you're trying to steal her eggs/chicks). In a day or so, you'll know if you've made the graft. Be prepared to have to heat lamp brood them if it doesn't go well for one or all. Good luck...hopefully she hatches all 3 of the eggs Once you get a hen to do the work for you, and see how cute they are with the chicks, it's hard to want to do it any other way.
Lady of McCamley
