Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[sssharon]

Song of joy, this is just my personal experience with my broody. I never separated her. She goes up on the highest nesting box and it was just my good luck that she turned out to be a great Broody and mama. When she had her chicks she tucked them in and Took them down below the whole nesting box area which is at least 2 feet off the ground. My other chickens did not bother her at all and it's probably because she is a very protective mama. I move them into a smaller coop and left the door open. On the second day she had her checks out on the floor already and nobody bother them at all and if the other chickens did come near her chicks they didn't stay for long. She got in a couple of flights right off the bat and nobody bothered her chicks once they could see that they were going to get anywhere. I hope you have is good luck with your Broody. Mine is sitting on eggs again and hopefully things will go as smoothly as they did the last time. She will be hatching next Monday hopefully if everything goes right.

 

[holm25]

Its my first time experiencing a broody hen!

 I'm just wondering how many eggs this hen can hold under her. She's got 4 at the moment and the other 2 hens are laying eggs each day and adding the eggs to her collection. How will this work out in terms of what days the eggs will hatch? 

I wouldn't let the hens add eggs. Now there is a chance for eggs to hatch 3 days later than the first eggs and she will probably leave the eggs that were so close. Do you have a rooster??

 

[moali99]

I wouldn't let the hens add eggs. Now there is a chance for eggs to hatch 3 days later than the first eggs and she will probably leave the eggs that were so close. Do you have a rooster??

Yes I have a rooster

 

[sssharon]

Holm25, I totally agree with that about not letting the hen ad more eggs. Im know authority I have just read about the hens leaving the eggs behind and taking care of the ones they have hatched. You have my curiosity as to why you ask if he has a rooster? I'm just wondering about that. Can you fill me in on that. I like to get opinions and learn as much as I can about chickens. I am on my second time of having a broody on eggs and it has worked out pretty good for me.

 

[moali99]

But its normally mostly this hens eggs that are fertile. So I don't know what I should do now that it's stopped laying. However I still want her to hatch some eggs

 

[moali99]

Holm25, I totally agree with that about not letting the hen and more eggs. I know authority I have just read about the hands leaving the exit behind and taking care of the ones they have hatched. You have my curiosity as to why you ask if she has a rooster? I'm just wondering about that. Can you fill me in on that. I like to get opinions and learn as much as I can about chickens. I am on my second time of having a broody on eggs and it has worked out pretty good for me.

Im a 'he'

 

[sktlmt]

Its my first time experiencing a broody hen!

I'm just wondering how many eggs this hen can hold under her. She's got 4 at the moment and the other 2 hens are laying eggs each day and adding the eggs to her collection. How will this work out in terms of what days the eggs will hatch?

 

[moali99]

Thank you! But 4 eggs isn't enough as the fertility rate of my chickens isn't so great. Any suggestions on what I should do?

 

[sssharon]

A2k, I think you're doing a great job and sorry for the loss of your chickens. Keep up the good work!

 

[sssharon]

Sorry Moali.