The Poultry Keeper

jaydee67 · Posted: Thu May 08, 2008 5:25 pm Post subject: How many eggs

will a broody maran sit on? Marie is broody and I'm getting a dozen minorca eggs tomorrow from attila.

Hen-Gen · Posted: Thu May 08, 2008 6:17 pm Post subject:

I'd go 9. Sometimes more but Minorcas lay big eggs.

mojo · Posted: Thu May 08, 2008 6:34 pm Post subject:

have a rule of thumb ....as many as you can cover with two clenched fists together for a banty and two spread hands(thumbs in) cover for a LF........that way the egg size is sorted by the space covered

Woodburner · Posted: Sat May 10, 2008 10:17 pm Post subject:

I've just put 8 not too large LS eggs under a silkie Surprised

They are all covered, but I'm a bit worried, as she stopped pulling them under her when she had just six. She also stopped at 6 when I was using (slightly larger) supermarket eggs to see how many she could/would cover.

Should I reduce them to six or . . . ? Confused

mojo · Posted: Sun May 11, 2008 11:52 am Post subject:

if you are really worried just watch for today if no turn/roll from hen try 7 and then repeat .............but as long as they are all covered (none half out)when she is sitting should be ok

Henwife · Joined: 31 Jan 2006 Posts: 2715 Location: Monmouthshire

Any chicken can sit up to a dozen eggs of the size she lays.

Woodburner · Posted: Sun May 11, 2008 6:37 pm Post subject:

Thanks, I reckon 3 of her eggs = 2 ordinary eggs so that would make 8 Wink

She rummaged them around when she went back to the nest after I lifted her, does that count?
She hadn't been off the nest all day and hasn't pooped even though I lifted her.

mojo · Posted: Mon May 12, 2008 2:02 pm Post subject:

it only when you give a brrody eggs of differant sizes you have to work out how many she can cover............better to give her a couple less to get coverage