My over-motherly hen is sitting on 10 eggs. I am wondering is this too much for her. What is the maximum amount of eggs that a hen is capable of brooding without stressing herself out. The last thing I want is finding half the eggs are dead cause she couldn't keep them warm.
2006-09-11 17:21:23 · 3 answers · asked by coolj 1 in Pets ➔ Birds
She should be able to handle ten eggs. But, remember, some will not hatch anyway. And after so many hatch she may leave the others to tend to her Chicks. Chickens are not the best incubators. This why many people use those electric incubators because they get a better hatch rate. If you want to try something fun. Carry one of the eggs in your shirt pocket for 28 days, then you can be a mother hen too. We used to teach this to children, they had a blast hatching their own egg.
2006-09-11 17:28:14 · answer #1 · answered by Snaglefritz 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
10 is fine, ive had hens hatch more.
Instinct will tell her to turn them every 20min or so, so all the eggs will get adiquite incubation.
Near the end when they are ready to hatch just check them to see if there are any rotten ones, the ones with babys inside will not make a noise when you gently shake them, and if you put the egg to your ear you can sometimes hear the chick cheaping.
2006-09-11 17:29:55 · answer #2 · answered by Krystle 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
10 is not too many, as long as she can cover them with her body
its okay
2006-09-11 19:16:55 · answer #3 · answered by Loollea 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋