Mrs subvet707 wanted to let one of our hens hatch out some eggs so we decided to let her try. The neighbor was kind enough to let us have 6 fertilized Black Copper Maran eggs and we put in 5 of ours. We have Blue Laced Red Wyandotte hens and a rooster and a couple other hens. Yesterday was 21 days and sure enough we heard peeps under the hen. She's a good mom and will peck you whenever you reach in.





If you look close you can see them under her feathers. So far eight have hatched. Don't think that's too bad of a percentage.

Braaaaaaawk! Bawk!, Bawk!, Bawk!, Bawk!, Baaaawkaaa!

I'll let hens hatch eggs. But I won't let them keep the chicks. I'll pull them for a brood box. I get much better survival rates this way.

was she being broody before you let her try or did you just stick them in and see what would happen?

She was very broody. Was sitting on eggs every night when we collected. Very protective too. Reaching in to grab eggs would get you pecked.

Ended up hatching nine of eleven eggs. Other two must not have been fertilized.

Posted Via AR15.Com Mobile

You can see eight of the nine and the two eggs in the background that didn't hatch.

Well, they will be 3 weeks old tomorrow and they are all doing well. Nine hatched and nine survived. It's quite comical watching her teach them how to scratch and find bugs