Well one of my girls went broody

[dcork1]

Hi I am Dave I have a hen that is trying to set, But it seems that the other hens are adding to her eggs. should I mark them and remove the other eggs or let her set all of the eggs? I have my home made bator full (started march 1st ),But am having trouble with the hummidity and temps. I think it is because of the temp swings(10-20 deg) in the barn? I added a coffee can of water with a cotton wick and only got40% This is my first try at getting chicks and I'm going to try both ways.The bator or the hen that is the Question? I raised biddies and was given some hens I don't even know what kind thay are? I have 25 hens and 8 roosters at the farm. Don't know much about chickens. But like to watch em. Any and all suggestions will be appreciated. I don't know what I'm doing also just learning how to post???
Thanks Dave

 

[daquilajmd]

thanks for your advice. Yes, my question was should I leave eggs there or what . . . Anyway, I think I understand now. I think I'm responding to Pete and Garden. Not good at this forum stuff yet.

 

[hankus]

Had a BO go broody Sat, and my pure BO eggs are 2 a day most days now,so I waited til last nite to "set" her. She has her own nest in a brooder now and I'll wait her out. She is young so may quit the nest. The only way we check for broody is to put a nest box full of practice golf balls. If a hen sets on em a couple days we swap her to a nesting brooder with fertile eggs. Sometimes when you remove them every day they aren't as likely to broody up, and the golf balls trick em so you won't waste good eggs trying to entice her to set.

 

[daquilajmd]

I'm going to try the golf ball approach. We do collect every day and I was thinking at some point I wouldn't collect and see what happens, but like you say, the eggs could go bad. I love the Buff Orpingtons. I don't have any but would like to some day.

 

[They Call Me Pete]

Sounds like she's not ready. Are your eggs all in one spot ? If they are she'll just go in and sit down on them and won't move. My girl is fluffed up big and hasn't moved in days. I have had some sit on eggs but when I threw out veggies in the outside pen ran out the door.