poppy ben grace Posted June 7, 2011 Share Posted June 7, 2011 Hi all, need some advice please. I have a hen who has been in the broody coop for about a week now. My hatching eggs have arrived and i will leave them for 24 hrs as advised. My dilema is do i use the hen(this is the first time she has gone broody) or should i use an incubator? Someone local to me is selling an incubator, electric hen, heatlamp etc for a reasonable price. I should also add my broody is a sussex hen and the hatching eggs are pekins, so would this cause a problem as she is a big girl compared to bantams? I realise there is a chance none of the eggs will hatch( i have 12), but would love to give it my best shot! Thanks for any advice you can offer, Hilary. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chicken bark Posted June 7, 2011 Share Posted June 7, 2011 I'd probably do a mix of both. With my first broody I left her on dummy eggs for 17 days and then put eggs under her at the end. I knew she was committed as she had sat that long. She is proving to be a brilliant Mum. You mentioned that she is a LF and the eggs you have are bantams. I have been advised against that combination unless the broody is not a first time one. If I were you I would get the incubator and put the eggs in there. If your broody is still broody at day 17 then put 3 eggs under her so she has not sat for nothing and you can see how good a Mum she would be without risking all your eggs. Good luck whatever you decide. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CatsCube Posted June 7, 2011 Share Posted June 7, 2011 Yes I did a mix of both, its lovely to go the natural route and have them with mum, but that way you dont get to see any of the hatch taking place, or in the case of my broody any of the chicks for a while! (they are all still hiding under mum in the coop) Watching the whole process of eggs hatching is amazing, particularly if you have kids. Plus I get to keep the chicks in the house and sit and have lots of cuddles with them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poppy ben grace Posted June 7, 2011 Author Share Posted June 7, 2011 yes, i think i will get the incubator, it seems too good to miss, especially if i get the bug and want to hatch some more at a later date! I have managed to borrow a spare coop from a neighbour in exchange for my two silkies, its nice as i can visit them and make sure they are happy(sad i know!) Will keep you posted on any results, am so excited ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poppy ben grace Posted June 7, 2011 Author Share Posted June 7, 2011 Yes I did a mix of both, its lovely to go the natural route and have them with mum, but that way you dont get to see any of the hatch taking place, or in the case of my broody any of the chicks for a while! (they are all still hiding under mum in the coop) Watching the whole process of eggs hatching is amazing, particularly if you have kids. Plus I get to keep the chicks in the house and sit and have lots of cuddles with them. We have 3 children, my eldest will be so excited, he keeps asking if the postman has brought the eggs yet! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sjp Posted June 7, 2011 Share Posted June 7, 2011 I've got 2 first time broodies one has chicks that are 6 weeks old today she's been top notch I wasn't sure weather to use her or not as she was a right stroopy mare but it's might have calmed her down a bit she was broody raised last year by a first time broody the other one is 'due' Sunday but so far she's sitting tight till this week a bit to tight but she's started to get off for a breack I've also got 2 batches of incubator raised chicks one lot are about 19 weeks old the others are again 6 weeks old broody hatching is alot less work but not as much fun Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jools Posted June 7, 2011 Share Posted June 7, 2011 I haven't used an incubator so I'm bound to say Broody. Watching mum with chicks is unbeatable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted June 7, 2011 Share Posted June 7, 2011 A broody hen will do it all with no extra expense but if you want the incubator and other things this would be what I'd recommend: Set eggs under boody and in incubator same day, 6 each Candle both sets at 7 days, remove any bad eggs and replace six good eggs back under the broody Check again at 14/18 days and by this time you'll probably have somewhere between 6-10 good eggs Place all good ones back under the broody and let her hatch and raise all the chicks Keep the brooder/heat lamp as a back up in the unlikely event that there is a problem with the broody The bonus there is that the broody raises the chicks, you dont end up with chick dander everywhere in the house, there isnt the cost of running the lamp, your incubator stays very clean and will last longer and you dont hit any of the really critical humidity issues in the last three days of using an incubator Not to mention witnessing the the priceless scene of a broody raising her chicks Win win Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted June 7, 2011 Share Posted June 7, 2011 I'd let the broody get on with it. The mess made indoors when the chicks are in a brooder is massive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poppy ben grace Posted June 7, 2011 Author Share Posted June 7, 2011 Thanks for your comments, so much to think about. I agree it would be much easier to use the hen, will see how she goes..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lewis Posted June 8, 2011 Share Posted June 8, 2011 I'd also use a broody every time! I'm waiting for some of our lot to go broody so I can hatch some chicks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craftyhunnypie Posted June 9, 2011 Share Posted June 9, 2011 Broodies are easier & I do love this option. I also like using the incubators, as the chicks grow up to be soooo tame & love being handled - even the boys! A broody & mother nature do it best though! Emma.x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poppy ben grace Posted June 9, 2011 Author Share Posted June 9, 2011 Thanks for your comments! Well i have put 2 eggs under my broody hen and the other 10 are now in the incubator. Quick question, do i leave the eggs in the inci for 24 hrs before starting turning them? I am so excited but have the attitude of if i get ANY to hatch its a bonus! Not sure what to do at the end, if i have any fertile eggs, do i put them all under my hen to hatch or keep a few back? As i said she is a first time broody so not sure how she will react. I have an electric hen and heatlamp on standby! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chicken bark Posted June 9, 2011 Share Posted June 9, 2011 Leave the eggs to get to room temperature for 24 hours before putting them in the incubator. You should turn the eggs during this time. Once in the incubator which should already be up to temperature/humidity etc, then turn them until day 18. If you think your broody is doing a good job then stick some more under her at the end. She should take day olds hatched in your incubator too. Broody's can't count thankfully. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
