Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

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NysiaAnera said:
I have actually never known how many eggs by Brahma gals have been laying, because all my birds lay large brown eggs, and we have 33 hens right now. Actually, 5 of them are Easter Eggers, so they lay blues and greens, but the other 28 lay large brown eggs. But we mainly have them for meat and eggs for us, so it is not so important for them to lay large numbers of eggs. We do sell eggs, but we don't rely on them for income or anything like that.
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Well I got 67 chicken yards/pens and 27 breeds were separated in about 35 pens---the rest were grow out pens. When the Auctions closed down----had to stop incubating----I had to cut way back------so I only kept the best layers for eating egg customers. Brahma's were good selling chick. But I also sold all the Wyandotte's, Black copper marans, Speckled Sussex, the Guinea's----well I sold 950 chicks/chickens in 6 weeks. Then slowly sold 200+more in the next few months. So I knew how many eggs each breed layed daily.
 
PD-Riverman said:
Well I got 67 chicken yards/pens and 27 breeds were separated in about 35 pens---the rest were grow out pens. When the Auctions closed down----had to stop incubating----I had to cut way back------so I only kept the best layers for eating egg customers. Brahma's were good selling chick. But I also sold all the Wyandotte's, Black copper marans, Speckled Sussex, the Guinea's----well I sold 950 chicks/chickens in 6 weeks. Then slowly sold 200+more in the next few months. So I knew how many eggs each breed layed daily.
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Yep, you would definitely need to know when it is for a business like that! The bird flu really did a number on things. I am sorry it was so devastating for your business. It didn't reach us here, but it definitely threw a wrench in our plans for a while.
I have thought about doing a small breeding operation here. I go back and forth. I prefer to let the chickens free range, but sometimes I really do want to know who lays what eggs, etc. I would also like to know which chicks are coming from what pairings. And I bet I could sell a lot of chicks in the spring, since we live an hour in any direction from anywhere. The only place to get chicks here is online from the hatcheries, or from the feed store... which orders them from the hatcheries. People have contacted me for birds also, because they like the way our birds are cared for. But, I would only want to breed my favorites, and I think most people want different varieties.
 
Violetsfeathers said:
I put eight eggs under my broody bantam Cochin yesterday! Do you think eight is too much? I've only ever hatched four.
What is the most you (bantam) hens have hatched?
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It depends on the sizes of the broody and the eggs being brooded. My smallest bantams can only brood two or three large eggs. Other larger bantams can easily cover eight large eggs. If she can cover all the eggs and all are warm to the touch you're probably fine (if they do not all feel warm remove those that are cool). Candle on the sixth day-any egg not developing can be removed and there will be plenty of room.
 
nchls school said:
It depends on the sizes of the broody and the eggs being brooded. My smallest bantams can only brood two or three large eggs. Other larger bantams can easily cover eight large eggs. If she can cover all the eggs and all are warm to the touch you're probably fine (if they do not all feel warm remove those that are cool). Candle on the sixth day-any egg not developing can be removed and there will be plenty of room.
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Okay, she is a bantam Cochin on eight bantam eggs. I don't see any of the eggs sticking out and I think one of my other hens just went broody so maybe I'll let them share
 
Violetsfeathers said:
I put eight eggs under my broody bantam Cochin yesterday! Do you think eight is too much? I've only ever hatched four.
What is the most you (bantam) hens have hatched?
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I had bantam Langshan that sat on 14 bantam Cochin eggs. She hatched out 12. She was a slightly bigger bantam, but she covered 14 no problem. 8 should be fine, but you should candle ina week or so to make sure you can pull out any that aren't developing. Rotten eggs can be so stinky! :lol:

I have 13 days for my broody to be done sitting on her turkey (and a couple chicken) eggs! I can't wait! I felt bad though, when I checked her the other day, I noticed she had a good amount of lice. I had just gotten some Vetrx, and that worked wonders to kill the lice quickly. I'm definitely going to invest in the large size of that stuff. It's especially nice because it is basically essential oils in an corn oil base.
 

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