Trying out a broody Hen. How many eggs?

[rascal66]

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..

Did those babies hatch?!

Thanks for sharing! I just got a hold of a new broody and she took the move amazingly well, and is now sitting its almost day 2 for her

I'd really like to try shipped eggs sometime. I know its a hit or miss, but there are some rare breeds i want to try too.

Also, do you ever have issues with Broodies that close to one another?

 

[rascal66]

 

[birdsrfun]

Two of my three girls go broody occasionally, and when they do, it’s hard to break them of it. I’ve been wanting to try letting them hatch some eggs for me. I’ll have to buy fertile eggs and set them under the hen. We use shavings as bedding in our nesting boxes. Will that do well, or should I use hay?

 

[rascal66]

Two of my three girls go broody occasionally, and when they do, it’s hard to break them of it. I’ve been wanting to try letting them hatch some eggs for me. I’ll have to buy fertile eggs and set them under the hen. We use shavings as bedding in our nesting boxes. Will that do well, or should I use hay?

I think shavings should be perfectly fine! Hay won't hurt either- I use hay personallly. Can always check your local Craigslist for fertile eggs too!

 

[birdsrfun]

I think shavings should be perfectly fine! Hay won't hurt either- I use hay personallly. Can always check your local Craigslist for fertile eggs too!

That’s a good idea. I’ve heard you’re lucky if you get a 50% hatch rate from shipped eggs. I was thinking of trying 15 eggs. Is that too much for a Black Australorp or Black Star?

 

[MINNIEMOUSE21]

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Wow, 13 little ones!

 

[LONDON HENS]

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Thats amazing, what a photo! Was that a 100% hatch? What breeds are the chicks?

 

[LONDON HENS]

Did those babies hatch?!

Thanks for sharing! I just got a hold of a new broody and she took the move amazingly well, and is now sitting its almost day 2 for her

I'd really like to try shipped eggs sometime. I know its a hit or miss, but there are some rare breeds i want to try too.

Also, do you ever have issues with Broodies that close to one another?

Yes! The babies did hatch. I only had one chick on day 21 so I was a bit worried but the following day there were 5 chicks. Not bad for shipped eggs. I usually get 2 or 3 if I am lucky here in England. In ten years I have had one 100% hatch with white leghorn eggs from eBay. I think this hatch is spread over 48 hours, so one chick is well behind the oldest and isn't walking as confidently yet. Mum is very good at brooding the weaker chick.

What eggs have you set under the broody?

I have never set 2 broody hens next to each other, I would keep them in separate nest boxes, A friend up the road says his just keep stealing eggs when one gets of to eat and drink.

 

[birdsrfun]

I have never set 2 broody hens next to each other, I would keep them in separate nest boxes, A friend up the road says his just keep stealing eggs when one gets of to eat and drink.

Now that is funny! I can just picture it.

I knew you need to keep a broody with her eggs in a quiet, separate area, but I would not have thought that one hen would steal another hen’s eggs. I’ve read here on BYC that a broody with her eggs will get aggressively protective.

 

[rascal66]

Wow, 13 little ones!

Actually there is 15!