Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[trailrider330]

Getting ready to try my hand at hatching shipped eggs with a broody. Only problem is, the seller is sending extra eggs and I'm not sure they will all fit under my broody.

The seller is sending 16 bantam eggs. My hen is standard sized. Is this too many eggs for her? If I want the best hatch possible, am I better off giving them all to her, or should I just give her half and throw the other half in the incubator?

 

[fisherlady]

Getting ready to try my hand at hatching shipped eggs with a broody. Only problem is, the seller is sending extra eggs and I'm not sure they will all fit under my broody.

The seller is sending 16 bantam eggs. My hen is standard sized. Is this too many eggs for her? If I want the best hatch possible, am I better off giving them all to her, or should I just give her half and throw the other half in the incubator?

Most full sized hens can easily handle 12-16 banty eggs...however, if you have easy access to an incubator it would be simple to split them, candle at day 10, pull any which aren't good and then give her everything that is left. It will keep her nest less crowded and keep you busier for the first half of the wait.

 

[nchls school]

Getting ready to try my hand at hatching shipped eggs with a broody. Only problem is, the seller is sending extra eggs and I'm not sure they will all fit under my broody.

The seller is sending 16 bantam eggs. My hen is standard sized. Is this too many eggs for her? If I want the best hatch possible, am I better off giving them all to her, or should I just give her half and throw the other half in the incubator?

16 might be too many. I'd put the eggs under the broody and see if she can easily cover them. Nesting material also makes a difference. Straw makes a better nest than wood shavings as it holds its shape. In the past I used shavings, but switched to straw when I kept finding eggs lost in the shaving/accidentally pushed aside. This is a consideration when giving a hen so many eggs. A stable nest will help hold the eggs in place.

 

[thoant]

Note:  If you see any misinformation, things you think should be added, information needing updated or removed, or any other changes to the FAQs please PM me.  I will try and keep them updated.  Thanks!

FAQs

How old does a hen and rooster need to be to be able to breed?

They need to be between 16 and 18 weeks old.

How do I know if a hen is broody?
They tend to stay in their nest boxes - getting up only a couple times a day - if that - to get nurishment and to relieve herself.  A broody hen also might growl or bite at you if you come too close.  They also tend to puff out their feathers to look larger and also to pull some feathers to keep their eggs warm.

Purpose of a broody hen?
A broody hen is great to have around if you want to hatch eggs the natural way.  They are great on farms that want to be self sustainable or in case of a power outage when you can't use an electrical incubator.  The broody hen will also protect and teach the young chicks.  They do however stop laying eggs while being broody and this is a problem for some.

Other hens laying eggs in her nest?
If you find other hens laying eggs in the broody hens nest, it is is best to mark the broodies eggs with a washable non toxic marker.  This will allow you to collect the extra eggs each day and ensure the broody continues to sit on the same eggs.  Others have had success with moving the broody hen off by herself where other hens can't get to her.

How do I make my hen go broody?
You can't make a hen go broody, especially if it's not in her nature or if broodyness has been bred out of that breed by other breeders or hatcheries.  You can however get a few golf balls and put in a nest to see if that will encourage her to go broody.  If she sits on the golf balls for a few days without getting up except for a few minutes, then she is broody and you can put some fertile eggs under her.

What are the best broody hens?
[COLOR=008000]Araucana - Frequent Brooder[/COLOR]
[COLOR=0000FF]Australorp - Very Frequent Brooder[/COLOR]
[COLOR=008000]Belgian D'Anver - Frequent Brooder[/COLOR]
[COLOR=0000FF]Belgian D'Uccle - Very Frequent Brooder[/COLOR]
[COLOR=008000]Brahma - Frequent Brooder[/COLOR]
[COLOR=800080]Cochin - Top Notch Brooders[/COLOR]
[COLOR=008000]Dominique - Frequent Brooder[/COLOR]
[COLOR=0000FF]Dorking - Very Frequent Brooder[/COLOR]
[COLOR=0000FF]Japanese - Very Frequent Brooder[/COLOR]
[COLOR=008000]Java - Frequent Brooder[/COLOR]
[COLOR=0000FF]Marans - Very Frequent Brooder[/COLOR]
New Hampshire - Good Brooder
[COLOR=008000]Orpington - Frequent Brooder[/COLOR]
[COLOR=800080]Silkie - Top Notch Brooder[/COLOR]
Sussex - Good Brooder

 

[fisherlady]

Brownie has been taking her 'dirty dozen' out and about this last week, got some pictures to share....

 

[fisherlady]

And a few more....

This is a foldable fence with additional narrow opening mesh around the bottom we use for a new broody hen's first outside trip if we are going to be preoccupied doing chores...the fence was folded up after her first day.

This little guy fell asleep right in the middle of his dust bath, lol...the littles sure do love sunning themselves!

Edit to clarify. ...my folding fence comment was one picture too low, new tablet doesn't show the picture, so I got the wrong placement.

 

[Catandherchicks]

Brownie has been taking her 'dirty dozen' out and about this last week, got some pictures to share....

Awwww. The cute factor is on overload.

 

[arkansaschicks]

Hey guys I have a question. I have a broody Ameraucana bantam and I have 12 eggs that I have to put under her. She seems to be covering them ok. Does anyone have any experience on a Bantam hatching that many eggs? Any tips? I'm just afraid of all the eggs getting to the right temperature underneath her. It just seems like the ones that are not directly under her are not getting is warm. Thanks so much for the help!!

 

[nchls school]

Hey guys I have a question. I have a broody Ameraucana bantam and I have 12 eggs that I have to put under her. She seems to be covering them ok. Does anyone have any experience on a Bantam hatching that many eggs? Yes. 12 or more eggs. Any tips? What are you using for nesting material? I'm just afraid of all the eggs getting to the right temperature underneath her. It just seems like the ones that are not directly under her are not getting is warm. Thanks so much for the help!!

If they are bantam eggs, 12 is not too many for most hens.

 

[fisherlady]

Hey guys I have a question. I have a broody Ameraucana bantam and I have 12 eggs that I have to put under her. She seems to be covering them ok. Does anyone have any experience on a Bantam hatching that many eggs? Any tips? I'm just afraid of all the eggs getting to the right temperature underneath her. It just seems like the ones that are not directly under her are not getting is warm. Thanks so much for the help!!

It may be too many for her to brood successfully, if the ones around the outer edges are cool she will roll them to the center, this will make others cool then...it becomes a battle she can't win and her hatch rate will suffer for it. Some hens can really spread out, and with a good nesting material and the right weather they can pull of a miracle...but to give her, and her eggs, the best chance you should consider moving some to an incubator. On day 10 you can candle, pull any duds and maybe let her have the rest then.


Edit to add....I never thought to ask if they were large fowl or bantam eggs! If bantam eggs she should be better able to handle that many.