Well, I'm back.

[PattiS72]

I haven't been on here for awhile, because everything's been going good. Haven't tried anymore to incubate eggs. But now, I think I may have two broody hens. Went out to feed and get any eggs this a.m. There was a hen in one of the boxes, just laying not making any of their "I'm laying an egg" noise. And another one on the floor of the nest house, again no noises, just laying. BTW, I didn't get any eggs then (I assumed they each had one under them). Just went out and fed again and to get eggs. The same two hens are in the same spots. I didn't get any eggs today (we were out of feed for a couple of days--so figured this would happen). I tried to move the one on the floor, she was very resistant. She stood up but stayed over her egg. So I left her and the other one. Hubby said it's about time. But I'm not sure...how many eggs (if they continue to sit and lay eggs) should I let them keep? How long should I give them? They should get up to eat and drink some right?

 

[GitaBooks]

Your hens sound broody. Standard breeds can cover 6-12 eggs, depending on size, but less tends to be better (less than 10 that is), as they are easier to cover for the hen and she won't break them as easily.
They will hatch eggs in 3 weeks if there is a rooster. Otherwise, they will likely continue sitting for a long while, and may begin to lose weight. If you don't have a rooster, buy hatching eggs for them or else break them up.

If you want them going broody then they should get up once a day, for 5-15 minutes, generally in the morning, to use the bathroom, eat some, and get a drink. They may also dust-bathe. Moving around it is good for them, so don't put food and water right near them.

If you have other hens, make sure they don't lay in these nests and add to them or the eggs will hatch at different times, and this causes major problems.

I hope this helps.

Best of luck to you and your hens!

 

[PattiS72]

Your hens sound broody. Standard breeds can cover 6-12 eggs, depending on size, but less tends to be better (less than 10 that is), as they are easier to cover for the hen and she won't break them as easily.
They will hatch eggs in 3 weeks if there is a rooster. Otherwise, they will likely continue sitting for a long while, and may begin to lose weight. If you don't have a rooster, buy hatching eggs for them or else break them up.

If you want them going broody then they should get up once a day, for 5-15 minutes, generally in the morning, to use the bathroom, eat some, and get a drink. They may also dust-bathe. Moving around it is good for them, so don't put food and water right near them.

If you have other hens, make sure they don't lay in these nests and add to them or the eggs will hatch at different times, and this causes major problems.

I hope this helps.

Best of luck to you and your hens!

Thanks GitaBooks---We do have a rooster in with them--there's 8 chickens total in that coop. 1 rooster and 7 hens. I guess I will know for sure tomorrow. They have to get up for water and feed--it's out in the coop--attached to the nest house. I think we have about 10-11 nest boxes. Sometimes 2-4 hens will lay eggs in the same box. Sometimes they are all in different boxes.

 

[GitaBooks]

Hens sometimes don't get off the nest a few days. Don't worry if they don't seem to be eating tomorrow.

I just found out this evening that my OEG bantam is broody! I've been waiting forever! Her name is Pip, and she's a great mom. I'm going to give her some eggs to set tomorrow.

Best of luck!

 

[PattiS72]

Well, I went to feed this A.M., the same two were in the nest house. BUT, the one that was in the nest box--was down on the floor of the nest house with the other one and there was a warm egg in the box the hen was in yesterday. Don't know if it's the egg she was on yesterday (if she had an egg) or if she knocked that one down (or gave up on it) and decided to get down with the other hen.

 

[GitaBooks]

Broodiess sometimes change nests if, for example, another hen is on their original nest. It was a real pain when I had broodies and they kept wanting to move their nests.