Third time's a charm? 'Nuther broody and more questions!

[Carli]

I think I have another broody BO. I'm going to leave her be for a few days and see how it goes. So as not to mess it up yet again, we decided after reading several threads here, to let her stay in the coop in her nesting box and just mark the eggs we give her to hatch. A couple of questions: For a first-timer, 10 month old BO, how many eggs should I give her? How many is too many? What type of marking should I put on the egg...if the marking is too big, will she reject it? I'm fairly certain that leaving her on her nest, the others are going to lay next to her. How hard will it be to get her to move so I can take the eggs her sisters lay in her box? Thanks again, friends! I really want it to work out this time!

 

[magicpigeon]

Well, I suppose a normal clutch size, about 12 eggs should be ok. I'm fairly "economic" about my silkies and just stuff as many eggs under as will fit. Even then I only get 1 or 2 that don't hatch

Don't move her, keep her in the dark and have minimal disturbance. A hen likes a dark, enclosed, windproof space to hatch her eggs. Just ask mine

 

[thechickonthehill]

Quote:
I would think 12 eggs would be plenty for her. It doesn't matter how you mark the eggs - put an "X" or just a small mark or a smiley face or whatever. Its just to be able to differentiate the old from the new eggs. I have started using a crayon instead of a pencil as the pencil tends to rub off and the crayon mark is more visible. Good Luck!

 

[Judy]

I usually go with about 8 or 10, though sometimes they crack one or two when moving them around. I mark them with a Sharpie, just draw a line all the way around the middle, so I don't have to disturb the egg to find the mark. Some broodies have let me just half lift them til I can see all the eggs. Others peck me. For those I use one hand and sort of shield her head away from my other hand as it hunts eggs. Thick winter gloves are thicker than they will peck through. Another method is to save a soup can or something similar and place it over her head while you check. She will peck the can.