How to Successfully Hatch Eggs with a Broody Hen

A broody hen can be very persistent when it comes to wanting to hatch baby chicks!  Giving her some fertile eggs to hatch is a great way to expand your flock.  Let’s talk about some ways to ensure that she will be successful! 

First, you want to start off with eggs that you know are fertile and fresh.  Whether you have a rooster of your own or you order hatching eggs, either will work just fine!  If you are using shipped hatching eggs, we recommend letting them settle for a minimum of 12 hours, pointy side down, before giving them to your hen. 

Setting up a safe, secure, and private space for your hen is one of the best things you can do for your hen.  It is best to have this space on the ground, or make sure the nesting area has a lip to ensure the new chicks don’t fall out.  You also want this space to be out of the reach of the rest of your flock.  If your hen is disrupted by other birds often, she may abandon the eggs.  You also want to guarantee a safe area for the newly hatched chicks, as other members of the flock may not take to them right away.  You want this space to be safe from predators and away from any areas that could be affected by bad weather as well.

Provide soft bedding, such as straw or shavings, and always check to ensure no external parasites are present.  Adding some diatomaceous earth to your nesting area can help with pests!  You want to establish a very comfortable space for your hen, as she will be spending the next 3 weeks there.  Supplying some nesting herbs can create a very relaxing environment for your hen as well.

Set up a feeder and waterer in your nesting area to provide easy access for your broody hen.  While you do want this to be close to her, you also want to put it a small distance away to ensure she does leave the nest to use the bathroom at least once a day.  Because a broody hen only tends to leave the nest once a day, her pile of waste will be a bit larger than normal.  Don’t be alarmed, but do take care to clean them up frequently.  As your broody hen is not laying eggs while sitting, you can offer a chick starter feed for a higher protein content.  Don’t be alarmed if she doesn’t eat as much as she normally would.  It is very common for her to be more focused on incubating her eggs than eating.  

While you don’t want to handle the eggs often, it is important to candle them at least once through the 21-day incubation period. By day 7, you should be able to see veining or signs of growth in your hatching eggs.  Removing any infertile eggs or eggs that have stopped developing can save you from having a big mess on your hands down the road.  

Most hens know just what they are doing and simply need some hands-off monitoring while they do the job that nature intended them to do.  Give her the support she needs to expand your flock!