Trying out a broody Hen. How many eggs?

[rascal66]

So I went ahead and set up two broody hens in the barn, both in the same stall. One is in a puppy carrier, the other is free, sitting on a large hay pile... The slide window is closed, so it's pretty dark in that stall. (Not like blinding dark or anything.)

So far, the one on the crate set perfectly! She's still, and is really sitting on those eggs. Really determined it looks like. Today will be day 2 (starting from day 0) and is good so far.

The other one on the hay pile, I keep finding her away from the nest. She's still acting broody, and when I stand her over the eggs, she sits and adjusts herself... But do broodies usually get up this often? I caught her twice off the nest today. Today counts as day 2 for her as well. Yesterday I saw her off the nest, but she was eating and made some large broody poops.

I guess I'm worried about that hen actually sitting and incubating those eggs. I know its a common and natural thing for hens to leave the neat for an hour or so, but she seems to get up a lot more than the other one.

Hopefully it will work out. Been really wanting to try this!!!

 

[Kdlevesque]

I have four hens that are four years old and two of them constantly go broody but I’ve never let them sit on eggs. A friend of mine gave me nine fertile eggs on Thursday and told me just to see what would happen. I put them underneath my hens... Four under one and five under the other one. So far they’re doing an excellent job of taking care of their eggs. I guess I have about 19 more days to go. I am so excited. You would think that I was hatching them myself!

 

[Minky]

I think 8 is the perfect number. 10 is a lot, and if she breaks one-the yoke will make a mess and run many more.

 

[rascal66]

I have four hens that are four years old and two of them constantly go broody but I’ve never let them sit on eggs. A friend of mine gave me nine fertile eggs on Thursday and told me just to see what would happen. I put them underneath my hens... Four under one and five under the other one. So far they’re doing an excellent job of taking care of their eggs. I guess I have about 19 more days to go. I am so excited. You would think that I was hatching them myself!

That is so exciting!! I wish I would have tried broodies myself sooner... We were turned off by it the very first time because we didn't set them up correctly which resulted in hens pushing each other off and breaking eggs.

Please keep us updated so we can see these mamas with their babies!!

My 1 hen in the crate is still brooding and should be on day 13? I'll need to check my calendar. My 2nd hen gave up on day 2, which was a shame.
I'll update soon too

 

[Minky]

So I went ahead and set up two broody hens in the barn, both in the same stall. One is in a puppy carrier, the other is free, sitting on a large hay pile... The slide window is closed, so it's pretty dark in that stall. (Not like blinding dark or anything.)

So far, the one on the crate set perfectly! She's still, and is really sitting on those eggs. Really determined it looks like. Today will be day 2 (starting from day 0) and is good so far.

The other one on the hay pile, I keep finding her away from the nest. She's still acting broody, and when I stand her over the eggs, she sits and adjusts herself... But do broodies usually get up this often? I caught her twice off the nest today. Today counts as day 2 for her as well. Yesterday I saw her off the nest, but she was eating and made some large broody poops.

I guess I'm worried about that hen actually sitting and incubating those eggs. I know its a common and natural thing for hens to leave the neat for an hour or so, but she seems to get up a lot more than the other one.

Hopefully it will work out. Been really wanting to try this!!!

My good broodies will only get up for 5-10 min max, and probably only every other day, or at most 1 x a day. The bad ones will poop on the nest or leave and forget about it or go back to the wrong one. There are good parents and bad parents.

 

[rascal66]

Wow, time flies. My Broody's eggs are hatching!! I saw one chick so far!

 

[KelseyBoxer]

Congrats!! Pics please?

 

[rascal66]

Congrats!! Pics please?

 

[rascal66]

 

[LONDON HENS]

I have a broody who is due to hatch some eggs tomorrow.. fingers crossed!

I have experienced the ups and downs of trying to move a broody in the past. Some hens will do it and some just wont, it comes down to the hen.

I have a hen who will let me move her anywhere... She is 9 years old and has hatched 9 lots of chicks for me. So these will be her 10th (The one in my profile pic)! I also have a younger first time broody hen who I have tried to move but she goes straight back to her old nest spot.

I try and buy different eggs every time on eBay and this time I have gone for Swedish flower hens... I got 12. I put 8 under the good broody and 4 under the questionable broody(but in her old nest spot with other hens laying around her and on top of her...) Fingers crossed. The 8 should be hatching tomorrow and the 4 on Saturday..