[waterbuffalofarmer]

I have been noticing lately that my youngest hen, who was broody 3-4 weeks ago, is starting to go broody again. The problem is I would need to not only build another house, but a run too. I have already spent 120 ££ on building a house and run for the pullets, I bought in 2 weeks ago. My question is do I go ahead and put eggs underneath her or wait till I have better facilities for her to hatch properly? 

[chrismahon]

She's perhaps far too young WBF, you don't say how old she is? Needs to be in top condition as well with no lice or mites anywhere, so that needs checking. The house needs to be at ground level for the chicks, which is something I overlooked. You could start her off and move her in two weeks.

[waterbuffalofarmer]

I could do. She is about 2, maybe? I'm not exactly sure how old she is. The reason why am not sure is because last time hatching was a disaster, so am a bit afraid that the hatching might be a disaster again. Also I have spent £120 on building a house and run for other hens, maybe I should get a cockerel in a few months, when I have more space for rearing chicks, then she can hatch her own.

[chrismahon]

Whilst hatching under a broody is pretty easy on the keepers, it isn't very reliable. We've had chicks eaten by mum, heard of eggs abandoned just short of hatching and had a lovely hen take ill and die whilst sitting (heart problem I think). If we do use a broody again we will make sure she is in perfect health and has fertile eggs of good condition. We put 10 under an Orpington, which I think was too many. 6 under a Wyandotte got a perfect hatch twice. If you put too many eggs down she can't cover them all well enough. Some will be cooler and hatch slower and will be abandoned to look after the first to hatch. So too many eggs reduces the numbers successfully hatched I think. I heard of someone put 17 bought hatching eggs under a broody and she abandoned 15 -expensive loss. Of course all this uncertainty stimulated the development of incubators.


I think 2 years old is fine. Just keep the number of eggs down to 6 WBF and candle them all for hairline cracks first. Don't mix breeds, as the inherent difference in shell thickness and egg size can have an effect perhaps -no problem in an incubator though.