[valr]

I don't have a cockerel so would have to buy fertile eggs.

I was wondering - if my hen goes broody and I decide to buy eggs for her to hatch - how quick do I need to be? If it took me a week to get them , would the hen sit on them until they hatched or would she get up after a couple of weeks thinking "job done, thats been 3 weeks" and wander off and leave them?

What if none of the eggs turned out to be fertile? Would she eventually give up?

Also would I just leave her to look after them or would I need heat lamps etc? Would she know when It was ok temperature-wise to take them outside?

Cheers

[doganjo]

If I wasn't re-homing Jamie tomorrow you could have some of mine

[valr]

Jamie the big sussex cockerel I saw? Why is he being rehomed Annie?

[doganjo]

He has rather a loud voice!  My neighbour across the railway line is on shifts up at Longannet and he is being wakened by Jamie every morning at 4am unless I shut them in (which I sometimes forget to do, and in the winter didn't at all), and he crows during the day if anyone comes near, or the pup tries to chase the hens, and actually attacks him.  He has had a go at me today, and did it before so although he eats out of my hand he is a liability.  A nice family with three hens and an acre of land are taking him tomorrow.  It will be strange without him for a bit but I don't think my hens will miss him - they might grow some feathers on their backs!

[joyofchicks]

Valr - I had a successful hatch last year with my broody, second time lucky!  

First time I got eggs from a friend who has a cockerel but they looked clear when we candled them so we took them away and she went back to normal after a few weeks.

You do have time to go get eggs for your broody - remember, in nature, she will lay an egg a day until she has her clutch of maybe a dozen or so eggs and will only begin setting when she's ready.  Our broody, Yoda, had been sitting tight for a few days then we moved her to the broody house at night and slipped 6 bought hatching eggs this time under her along with some of her own we found in her 'hidden' nest.  I gradually removed her own ones and she continued to sit till the fertile eggs hatched 21 days later.  We had a covered run outside the kitchen window (I did no housework for days!) and Yoda did all the work.  No need for a brooder or heat lamp (though I did know where I could get one in case she was not a good mum).  Four out of six hatched and I have two lovely Light Sussex pullets this year.  Two boys went to live with a friend when they got too big for us to keep.

I wanted to try again this year and Yoda was recently brooding over two golf balls.  A friend gave me eggs fertilised by my cockerels but Yoda gave up after two days so you can't be certain of what will happen.  It is great fun though (as long as you have thought what you will do with boys) so good luck!

[bamford6]

best bet get some 1week old chicks ....i have people all the time £12 for six put them in at night no problem .iff you get bad eggs thats it . the hen has to look after chicks and the birds are better

[Roxy]

Night before last, I noticed a bantam missing at bed time.  Hunted round, and there she was, under the bushes, sitting on 10 eggs.  Not all hers, some are a different colour, so two banties laying there.  Have removed her and the eggs and shared them between her and one other broody bantie,  If left to their own devices, the hens would probably lay a dozen then sit.  So the sitting does not start until all are laid, and 21 days from then.

[Castle Farm]

Have a look on my web site Vair there is some stuff about broodies on there.

www.castlefarmeggs.co.uk

[valr]

thanks Dave - very useful! Can I ask why you let the chicks out without the hen and put them back at night?