Rhode Island Red hen laying 12 eggs

[New Hen Mama]

Hi all, A Rhode Island Red hen adopted me as her new mama and I am kinda clueless about raising chickens.. She was here about 2 weeks and started laying eggs.. on my front porch in my dog’s bed.. lol.. As of right now she has 12 eggs but not sitting on them.. I think she used to be someone’s pet as she is so tame.. I can pet her, follows me like a dog and comes when I call her.. I have never seen such in a chicken.. lol.. so my question is.. how many eggs will she lay before she sits on them( if she does).. I have no idea if she mated with a rooster or not.. I wouldn’t mind having baby chicks for my granddaughters to see.. but really don’t want to get in the chicken business..wouldn’t mind having a couple of hen to lay me eggs though.
Thanks


I just checked her nest/ dog bed and now there are 13 eggs

 

[Perris]

hello @New Hen Mama ! welcome to BYC
If she has been with a rooster just before coming to you, there is a chance the eggs would be fertile, and at least some of them develop if she started incubating them (ie. sitting on them round the clock bar brief spells off to eat, drink etc.) soon. But if she does not go broody very soon and/or mate, then the eggs will probably not develop or be unfertilised. You could (perhaps should) take some of the eggs, and continue that until (if) she does go broody. IMO 6 eggs is quite enough for a clutch given your aims, so I would remove any more. Of course, if she doesn't mate before going broody, then you would need to source some day old chicks to switch for eggs on or about day 21 thereafter. Then hopefully she would raise them and you and your grandchildren get to enjoy a broody with chicks

 

[New Hen Mama]

I forgot to mention that I live in the boonies on a gravel road and up the street and around the corner I do hear a rooster.. as far as I know no one here raises chicken to breed and very rarely do I see chickens.. mostly cows .

I will do as you mention and see if she starts to go broody on me.. but is 13 eggs to many for her to lay? I am thinking if she doesn’t sit on them, just tossed them out as I feel they may be bad to eat.. I know the next clutch she lays won’t be fertile, as she is the only chicken in the yard.. for now.. I will be getting a coop for her soon so my poor dog can have her bed back.. lol
Thanks for the suggestion!

 

[aart]

Gather egg daily.

 

[Perris]

I feel they may be bad to eat

the float test is easy and reliable: immerse any egg in a mug of water, and if it sinks, it is good to eat. If it floats, bin it (actually it may still be OK to eat, but it's older).

 

[RAnst4038]

Spend time reading Back Yard Chickens. I knew nothing before I did. Now I think Chickens are the best thing in my life!

 

[Mvan42]

RIR is a breed that more than likely won’t go broody. The broodiness has been breed out of them. Yes gather eggs daily.

 

[aart]

the float test is easy and reliable: immerse any egg in a mug of water, and if it sinks, it is good to eat. If it floats, bin it (actually it may still be OK to eat, but it's older).

Right, floating only telsl how much evaporation has happened to egg.

When in doubt....
Open eggs one at a time in a separate dish before adding to pan or recipe,
use your eyes, nose, and common sense to decide if egg is OK to eat.

 

[aesch]

I have 4 RIRs that are almost 2 years old and they've never gone broody. They are very friendly if you interact with them daily so I can see how yours has become so tame. They like to lay in an enclosed, dark space where there's a little privacy. A cat carrier would probably work well. Good luck, she sounds like a great pet.

 

[DobieLover]

RIR is a breed that more than likely won’t go broody. The broodiness has been breed out of them. Yes gather eggs daily.

Tell that to mine!! It took me 3 nights and a day in the crate to break her. And she is hatchery stock.
You never know if a chicken is going to go broody. They don't need eggs to go broody. My current broody, a PBR, would sit in an empty nest gleefully puffing up and screeching at anyone who came near her.
As for the OP's chicken, I would collect the eggs daily and enjoy her. If you really like her, consider building a coop and run for her and get her a couple of friends. There is a lot to that. You don't just toss strange chickens together unless you want a terrible scene.
Welcome to BYC!