If you have a rooster, your eggs will be fertile. Dr. Elliott, BVMS, MRCVS is a veterinarian with over 30 years of experience in veterinary surgery and companion animal practice. You will need one box for every two to four hens. By using our site, you agree to our. References Some people prefer to swap eggs during the day, so that if an egg gets rejected they can quickly transfer it to an incubator. Five Ways to Encourage a Hen to go Broody. Depending on the egg size and bird species, larger eggs take longer to hatch and smaller ones are likely shorter times. You can assist her by leaving feed and water close by. Try putting them in together first. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. This article has been viewed 55,798 times. But for this you need  broody hen. ", http://www.motherearthnews.com/homesteading-and-livestock/encourage-hens-to-hatch-eggs.aspx, http://www.allaboutchickens.info/broody-hens-guide/, http://www.fresheggsdaily.com/2014/04/five-ways-to-encourage-hen-to-go-broody.html, http://www.backyardchickens.com/a/pictures-of-chicken-nesting-boxes-how-to-build-a-nest-box, consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. Be sure the nests always have plenty of clean nesting material that's thick enough to provide a nice cushion for the eggs so they don't break. So how do you know when a hen is broody and how do you 'make' a hen go broody? and providing the right circumstances. The short answer is - You can't "force" a chicken to sit on eggs. There are 15 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. The best time to do this is at night, since your hen will be docile and less likely to reject them. A chicken egg takes about three weeks, twenty-one days, on average. Should we leave the two hens in one compartment and leave the rest in the other one? She graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1987 with a degree in veterinary medicine and surgery. So what to do? You can't force the egg out of the chicken. The hen will then sit on the eggs for 21 days – only leaving the nest for short periods of time (about 20 minutes) to get feed, drink and generally have a run around. Once your hen begins sitting on the wooden eggs, you should swap them out for real eggs. Clucking frantically if another chicken or you comes near her or the eggs This article was co-authored by Pippa Elliott, MRCVS. Running out to get a drink or to eat and then running back to the coop, clucking. 2) A second way to encourage a hen to go broody is to leave some eggs in the nests ( 'dummy' eggs, such as golf balls or plastic Easter eggs work just as well as real eggs and don't risk being broken). Slip some fertilized eggs under her and with a little luck, in 21 days, she'll hatch some chicks for you. Alternatively, you can swap the eggs during the day and quickly transfer them to an incubator if they’re rejected. Separate the hen from the flock after the chicks have hatched. Add some sawdust and/or straw to serve as bedding for your chicken(s). 5) Be sure there's ample feed and water close by so your hen can still easily get up off the nest to eat and drink without venturing too far. wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. 1. She graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1987 with a degree in veterinary medicine and surgery. If you are referring to the lid of the nesting box, no. % of people told us that this article helped them. Please help us continue to provide you with our trusted how-to guides and videos for free by whitelisting wikiHow on your ad blocker. In order for eggs to hatch, they must be kept warm by either a sitting hen or an incubator. Did the chicken lay the egg? Interested in advertising your company? Twelve cubic inches (12" x 12" x 12") is a good size for each box. What should I do? First get some repellent so the bugs will leave and take some time to clean the coop. 4) Adding some herbs to the nesting boxes such as lavender or chamomile can help the hen relax and feel safe and secure. Do not disturb your hen after it has become broody. After the eggs hatch, she acts as the brooder box as well, needing no electricity to keep the chicks warm and safe. Get Fertile Eggs From Your Flock’s Rooster. My mum has a hen coop, but it isn't very clean. This article has been viewed 55,798 times. No more messy, dusty brooder in your laundry room or garage, no worries about heat lamps. She will begin to pull her breast feathers out, literally "feathering" her nest, and growl and fuss if you try to move her. Does there is a need to keep the lid open? Should I put both together in the brooding place? Which Holiday Leftovers are Safe for my Chickens. lot and really look forward to reading more and learning even more, thank you for sharing all the information on this site. Letting a hen sit on a nest of eggs to hatch them is far easier than using an incubator. For more advice from our Veterinary co-author, including how to create the best environment for your hen, keep reading! Add calcium by drying out egg shells in the oven, crush them with a rolling pin and add to chicken feed. Is it still okay for brooding? She has worked at the same animal clinic in her hometown for over 20 years. The instinct for hens to sit on top of eggs is known as “being broody.” You can encourage broody behavior (and get your eggs to hatch) by stimulating your hen with “eggs,” altering her environment. If you really can’t stand to see another ad again, then please consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. If so, don't worry the mother chicken knows what she is doing, just let her do her job. We only have one hen coop with two compartments. I have learned a, "I found that overfeeding the hens made them too fat and perhaps even being more interested in being fed than, "Separating the hens is a great method. 3. You can usually tell if your hen has gone broody if she is: She has worked at the same animal clinic in her hometown for over 20 years. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/d\/df\/Get-Your-Hen-to-Become-Broody-Step-1-Version-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Get-Your-Hen-to-Become-Broody-Step-1-Version-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/d\/df\/Get-Your-Hen-to-Become-Broody-Step-1-Version-2.jpg\/aid470097-v4-728px-Get-Your-Hen-to-Become-Broody-Step-1-Version-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":"728","bigHeight":"546","licensing":"