How is a clutch laid and when will they start sitting? Looking forward to spring!

[kesrchicky16]

I still do not know what the actual sound is hens use to indicate they are looking for a bo, I can just rule out sight and smell.

My persistent broody hen started dancing for my cockerels while they were still in the look don't touch phase of introductions. And I mean rooster dancing! They were young cockerels and it took them a good month start dancing for my hens. After she danced their dance she did the "broody strut" aka the wild Tom turkey impersonation. Then because they couldn't get on top of her and do their business she would come cuss me to let them out.

I firmly believe every species has cuss words and you might not know what they are saying but sure as poop you know when an animal is cussing. Sitting broody hens cuss when you approach them. Then they just scream the song of "Help she stole my egg! Egg Thief, egg Thief, egg Thief! Help egg Thief!"

 

[Penny spender]

It sounds like I was probably very lucky that Speckles (in my avatar) went broody last summer without a Rooster around! Hopefully that means she will definitely be broody this year with one there!

 

[kesrchicky16]

It sounds like I was probably very lucky that Speckles (in my avatar) went broody last summer without a Rooster around! Hopefully that means she will definitely be broody this year with one there!

Nope some hens just want to be mamas. My Hester went broody in March. I got my cockerels in July. She was only mildly broody when I lost my Alpha cockerels and wanted his babies so I offered her some fake eggs in he old broody box and she took them even though she was still laying.

 

[Welshies]

Nope some hens just want to be mamas. My Hester went broody in March. I got my cockerels in July. She was only mildly broody when I lost my Alpha cockerels and wanted his babies so I offered her some fake eggs in he old broody box and she took them even though she was still laying.

Some breeds are also more broody, like Silkies, game breeds, Muscovy ducks, etc.

 

[kesrchicky16]

Some breeds are also more broody, like Silkies, game breeds, Muscovy ducks, etc.

Yep Hester is Buff Orpington. They rank somewhere in the top 6 most broody breeds for chickens.

 

[Welshies]

Yep Hester is Buff Orpington. They rank somewhere in the top 6 most broody breeds for chickens.

Yep. But of course, every chicken is different

 

[kesrchicky16]

Yep. But of course, every chicken is different

Of course. I have 5 other Orpington hens that are pissy about egg theifing but won't sit.

 

[chickengeorgeto]

So the eggs sitting on the counter will still be viable for 1-2 weeks?? Really? Thats awesome!....

No, the eggs sitting on the counter are subject to every extreme of environment known to Chickendom. I fully expect someone to come in and argue that in nature all hens eggs are supposed to sit for two weeks on the top of a formica or granite countertop and suffer swings in temperatures, and humidity not to mention get covered by a choking, smothering cloud of cooking oil or grease rising up off the stove plus never get turned to prevent the fetus or embryo from becoming stuck to the egg's membranes.

Eggs intending to be set should ALWAYS be stored between 50 to 65 degrees Fahrenheit at a relative humidity of 45 to 65%. Also every egg should be turned 1, 3, 5, 7, or 9 times a day but never 2, 4, 6, or 8 times. This is because turning an odd number of times per day always leaves the embryo in a different region of the egg overnight and this helps prevent stuck embryos. When the fish weren't biting in my youth I have set quitely and observed a hen getting ready to lay. Invariably the first thing she does after getting in the nest is to shuffle, turn, and move all of her eggs. DO YE LIKEWISE.

 

[kesrchicky16]

No, the eggs sitting on the counter are subject to every extreme of environment known to Chickendom. I fully expect someone to come in and argue that in nature all hens eggs are supposed to sit for two weeks on the top of a formica or granite countertop and suffer swings in temperatures, and humidity not to mention get covered by a choking, smothering cloud of cooking oil or grease rising up off the stove plus never get turned to prevent the fetus or embryo from becoming stuck to the egg's membranes.

Eggs intending to be set should ALWAYS be stored between 50 to 65 degrees Fahrenheit at a relative humidity of 45 to 65%. Also every egg should be turned 1, 3, 5, 7, or 9 times a day but never 2, 4, 6, or 8 times. This is because turning an odd number of times per day always leaves the embryo in a different region of the egg overnight and this helps prevent stuck embryos. When the fish weren't biting in my youth I have set quitely and observed a hen getting ready to lay. Invariably the first thing she does after getting in the nest is to shuffle, turn, and move all of her eggs. DO YE LIKEWISE.

Yes you have to turn, no I don't recommend keeping next to the stove, my local relative humidity never gets above 30% unless it reaches 100% and rain is falling. I kept eggs on the counter starting on Sunday and began incubation on Saturday so far I have 85% viability on the ones I can see inside.
Chickens aren't perfect. Humans fuss way too much. Yes there ideals but imperfect works too. I don't understand how a chicken is going to raise outside air from 15% humidity to 50% humidity for hatching she can't sweat that much. Yes I will raise my incubator humitidy but to say "you have to..." is an extreme to ideal.

 

[rebrascora]

I don't understand how a chicken is going to raise outside air from 15% humidity to 50% humidity for hatching she can't sweat that much.

My best broody pooped in her nest once right on the last day before hatch and I did wonder if that was to increase the humidity.....as you say, how else can they raise it.... It didn't affect the hatch rate.... 100% healthy chicks.... 14/14! Not pleasant, but nature is rarely the hygienic situation that we all seem to want it to be. Chicks often eat their broody mother's poop and I've seen my foals eat their mother's poop..... nature knows best, as disgusting as it sometimes seems to us. There is good bacteria in that poop and instinctively those babies know it.