Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[Kabootar]

Right forgot about that factor. It was just one of those odd the wall questions I had. I know she's stayed on for two days while they've hatched, but have never had a staggered hatch of any kind. I have everything as is just one of those curiosity questions, and couldn't find much.

A good mama hen would abandon the nest to take care of the chicks that actually hatched, after 24 day. Aseels are the best broody hens in the world and that's what they do.

 

[Perris]

A good mama hen would abandon the nest to take care of the chicks that actually hatched, after 24 day. Aseels are the best broody hens in the world and that's what they do.

but a staggered hatch can have eggs in various stages of hatching and chicks at various stages of recovering from hatching; it's rarely black and white of the form hatched v unhatched. And thus the broody may be conflicted and need to weigh up the situation.

 

[Molpet]

Question... Is a 4 day set too much for a broody? Like would she continue to let the others hatch after her first bunch? Most of ours have ever started hatching day 20 thru 21.

I set eggs that I wasn't sure on if fertilized, and only have 5 under Mama that are developing and 3 in incubator. I was hoping for more that's why there's two different set dates lol

I have room to brood the 3 by themselves that's not the issue just wasn't sure if I could merge them.

I have had some turkey hens that leave half zipped to take care of the ones that were hatched a couple days. I also had 2 turkeys last year that sat tight on the eggs ( that never did hatch) and let the young run wild.