Rookie Broody or Incubator?

[Simple-country]

I'm getting some spendy and much coveted (by me anyway) eggs next Wednesday. My luck with incubating shipped eggs has been disappointing. There were 2 hatched out of 7 from this same breeder (that the others are coming from) just this week, but 0 out of 18 from another. My question: I have a Cochin that is DEFINITELY broody but it's her first time. Do I risk it and give them to her? I'm expecting 6 tolbunt Polish and 12 cream legbars. I have her settled in a safe nesting area in a private coop right now (after moving her just last night). She's doing her broody thing over some small pullet eggs to keep her parked. I'm new to all of this. Thank you!!

 

[Ridgerunner]

18 eggs is too many anyway. I don’t know if she is bantam of full sized, but I’d split the eggs, some under her and some in the incubator. Don’t give her any more than she can comfortably cover.

Bad things can happen under a broody, even if she is isolated. Bad things can happen in an incubator. Spread the risk. It’s called insurance.

 

[Simple-country]

So go 50/50? She's full sized. I know this breeder sends extras (last time it was 2 in addition to the 6 - I really like them!). That would put her at 12.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Hens and eggs come in different sizes. If she can comfortably cover them you are OK. The nest itself can make a difference too. Is the nest big enough that she can spread out?

Since the Polish eggs are probably bantam she should be able to cover 12 of them. Most hens can cover 12 eggs of the size they lay but I had a hen that 10 of her own eggs were all she could handle. I've seen a hen hide a nest and come out with 18 chicks so she could obviously cover a lot more than 12.