stupid question pt.2

[tcal]

If more than one hen is using a nest will a hen decides "OK there's enough eggs here to sit on" Will she sit on them even though they are not all hers? I know, I know, this is probably elementary for you guys but I honestly am trying to learn.

 

[B. Saffles Farms]

Yes she will sit on them even if thier not all hers.

 

[OrpingtonManor]

Mine don't care whose eggs are there. They just settle down to business. In fact, they prefer something there to nothing. I have plastic easter eggs that have been in there since they started laying (in the wrong places.) I have one long nesting box that accomodates several hens at once. When I first put the plastic eggs in there, the ladies would wait to lay in the end where the plastic eggs were. Then, I put one in either end and they started to use the whole thing. I have never taken them out.

 

[Chicken Woman]

It's not a stupid question There are no stupid questions when you are trying to properly care for you chickens !

A hen that becomes broody will sit on anyones eggs ! You would want to put a mark on the ones you want her to be sitting on because sometimes another hen will jump in the box and lay another egg. That way when she leaves the nest to eat and drink you can take away the newly hatched eggs to eat.
Depending on the size of the hen she can sit on all the eggs she can cover and keep warm

It's funny but a bantam will even sit on a standard chickens eggs and hatch them.

 

[Chicken Woman]

i currently have a bantam that has gone broody and is sitting on a wooden egg.

 

[tcal]

you folks are AWESOME!! thanks

 

[B. Saffles Farms]

Quote:
Broody hens make good incubators.

 

[ozark hen]

no stupid questions on here! A broody will set on any eggs...no matter if they are chicken eggs or guinea eggs or whatever.