Peahen setting

[hairco]

i have a peahen that has started setting and i don;t think she has about 1 or 2 eggs under her and was wondering if i ck to see how many is under her will she take the nest again if she flyes off when i am checking to see how many eggs is under her and do any one ever let them set on the eggs to hatch

 

[DylansMom]

i have a peahen that has started setting and i don;t think she has about 1 or 2 eggs under her and was wondering if i ck to see how many is under her will she take the nest again if she flyes off when i am checking to see how many eggs is under her and do any one ever let them set on the eggs to hatch

I have hens hatch eggs every year, some are better at it than others, but the only way you will know how good she does is to let her try. Also I would check the # of eggs at night or you will likely get pecked. The only time my hens are brave enough to peck me is when they are sitting on eggs.

 

[MinxFox]

You could also wait until she leaves the nest for food and water and check the nest then. She may even try and peck you at night as I have had my peahen puff up at me and hiss and everything at night when I went to return a peachick so be careful!

 

[hairco]

now i have another one setting and neither one can have over 2 eggs under them and i have 4 under a hen and about 20 in the bator so we will see what happens

 

[hairco]

well can i add eggs to them and i have heard if you handle the eggs they won't take them is that true?

 

[DylansMom]

well can i add eggs to them and i have heard if you handle the eggs they won't take them is that true?

That's not true at all, at least in my experience. I always have the same hens go broody and I got tired of only getting chicks from them, so I started to switch their eggs for eggs from my other hens who never go broody. They didn't seem to notice at all.

 

[Ellaluvsbirds]

Last year was my first year that I was serious about hatching eggs. So, when the peahens started laying theirs I left them to see if they would go broody. Instead of them going broody, they stepped on the eggs and squashed them. Has anyone else had this happen? After the squashing incident I collected the eggs and put them under a broody chicken. This year should I risk trying to let the peahens go broody?

 

[DylansMom]

Last year was my first year that I was serious about hatching eggs. So, when the peahens started laying theirs I left them to see if they would go broody. Instead of them going broody, they stepped on the eggs and squashed them. Has anyone else had this happen? After the squashing incident I collected the eggs and put them under a broody chicken. This year should I risk trying to let the peahens go broody?

How old were your hens last year? I have never had a hen go broody the first year she laid, I don't think they have a clue that first year. The ones I do have that go broody are older and they will be very good about laying their eggs all together in a nest spot. Some of my hens have never gone broody when they lay every egg is in a different corner of the pen or they drop them off the perch. I will collect all eggs that are being laid in different corners and the ones that survive the plunge from the perch. If I have a hen who is broody I will give some to her. The only way to know what they are going to do is to watch very closely.

 

[Ellaluvsbirds]

How old were your hens last year? I have never had a hen go broody the first year she laid, I don't think they have a clue that first year. The ones I do have that go broody are older and they will be very good about laying their eggs all together in a nest spot. Some of my hens have never gone broody when they lay every egg is in a different corner of the pen or they drop them off the perch. I will collect all eggs that are being laid in different corners and the ones that survive the plunge from the perch. If I have a hen who is broody I will give some to her. The only way to know what they are going to do is to watch very closely.

Thank you so much for your advice. The peahens were one last year. On average, how many eggs does a peahen lay per season?

 

[DylansMom]

Thank you so much for your advice. The peahens were one last year. On average, how many eggs does a peahen lay per season?

Wow, they laid at 1 year, that's great. Mine are all different, my cameo hen will lay 2 clutches of no more than 5 eggs each, so 10 per year. My one Pied laid 33 eggs last year, she is one who never goes broody so I collect them as they are layed/dropped from the perch and she just keeps laying. Usually most will lay 6-12 and then either sit on them or they will take a break for a couple weeks and then lay another round. At least that has been my experience.