question about natural hatching.

[paddyg84]

Yeh well the hen is isolated and has easy access to food and water and it certainly hasn't been cold here. Tho it's Ireland so it hasn't been overly warm either lol. Very disappointed as it's my second unsuccessful attempt at hatching 6 eggs each time. Guess I've learned my lesson about buying mail order hatching eggs.

 

[centrarchid]

Complications with getting good hatches can come from many possibilities. Most of my birds are hen hatched and reared usually by actual mother. My flocks are self-sustaining in that I do not outsource birds or eggs. Over last few years I also got really detailed in study of the volunteer reproductive process and you will likely see my observations vary greatly from what goes on when broody hens are intensely managed.

For future reference I suggest you get a game hen as they have a solid reputation for broodiness and the ability to rear chicks. Let one go through process naturally and see what characteristics she likes a nest of her making to have. Look at sequence of egg production, actual brooding, and hatch. Use that knowledge for directing your subsequent efforts.

Below are links to threads where I observe birds relatively closely and you may see a pattern.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/451333/constructing-a-single-chicken-family-unit-for-porch

Current effort also considers role of father in more detail.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/882368/what-to-look-for-in-a-broody-rooster