From Egg to Hatch with a Broody Hen

If you're thinking of incubating eggs using a broody hen and want to know how to do it and what to expect then this video is just for you.
I'll take you through obtaining fertilised eggs, storing them, setting the eggs, the brooding period and of course, the hatch. It should give you all the information you need plus hints and tips to maximise the number os successfully hatched eggs.
Opening Music credits:
Artist = Earth Tree Healing
Composer = Claudine West
Website = claudinewestmusic.com/earth-t...
Incidental Music credits:
Website = bensound.com

[@Digimonisbetterthanpokemon]

This has quickly become my favourite channel.

[@EnglishCountryLife]

That's lovely of you - thank you kindly 🙂

[@A.B.Inc.]

I don't have a hen but I just watched this video with so much attention 🤣. Thank you and to hens.

[@EnglishCountryLife]

You’re welcome 😊

[@rebeccaweil1]

I love this so much. I used to rear ring neck doves. They mate for life and have a funny sweet ritual before mating. The doves are quite broody and the male sits on the badly made nest during the day while the females take the night shift. They also both feed the chicks and rear them equally. I’m in Mexico near a farm and now I can decipher the sounds a little better. The Rooster crows non stop. Now I now know why the hens makes that sound after laying an egg. Truly sweet

[@EnglishCountryLife]

So glad that you enjoyed it!

[@attiliofrabetti8023]

Best video about broody hens, especially the part about taking care of the hen during her 21-day work!

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Thank you!

[@littlefarmer1303]

After watching one of your videos about Buff Orpingtons, last year we decided to give a go with this breed. They are the latest edition to our flock. They are so different, so gentle, a lovely bunch of birds. From 12 eggs 10 of them got hatched and only 3 of them been roosters. We are meat eaters, so we are happy for roosters too. They are truly a lovely breed, wonderful even with children. Brahmas and Buff Orpingtons are the gentle giants. I'm so glad that you made such wonderful videos abut them. Without your videos we would not have them in our garden. Thank you for your amazing, informative videos.

[@EnglishCountryLife]

I'm so glad! They are such a wonderful addition to any home trying to be self reliant - the dual purpose and natural broodiness makes them so useful for our mindset!

[@amalgamated-]

I live in the city limits and had a game hen just show up at my house 😂😳 she’s my baby now! I only had her 2 months and she went broody. We collected 8 eggs from 2 relatives whom live on farms with various breeds of chickens that are breed dayly. She’s been hatching them out today and we only have 3 hatched so far. Hopefully more tonight and tomorrow. I’ve purchased a large chicken hutch with roost and large safe cadge in area for grazing in our yard. When she’s raised them my family will take them for their farm.

[@EnglishCountryLife]

How exciting 🙂

[@capyfarm2700]

Love your relaxed voice in explaining things. And not rambling on and on. Sure going to check your other videos 👍🏼

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Thank you so much!

[@geissinhorms1433]

Thank you for the video ! Greetings from Brazil 🇧🇷

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Hello 👋

[@LuckyFigFarm]

Great video, thanks! It’s such a joy raising chicks naturally.

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Definitely!

[@parkool007]

You define how to take care of animals.. good to see

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Thank you

[@pazdiwata8807]

Thank you so much for taking the time to conceptualize and make this video and then share it to us. This is very educational for me.

[@EnglishCountryLife]

You are very welcome 🙂

[@patrickkelly1195]

Really very informative! I have a broody hen so went looking for You Tube ‘how to’ videos. This is the first one I watched and I really don’t think I need to watch any more. Really comprehensive and very helpful. Thank you Fiona / Hugh.

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Thank you so much Patrick!

[@seven1378]

Moved one of our hens that went broody yesterday, wasn’t sure what to expect, your video explains in detail, what a relief,,,Thanks much from Missouri

[@EnglishCountryLife]

So glad that it helped

[@silvercat18]

These are big, gorgeous chickens!

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Thank you! We think so too!

[@voiceofmanywaters3720]

I really enjoy your videos. They are thorough and answer many questions that come up. Cheers!

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Glad to help. Thanks for your compliment!

[@voiceofmanywaters3720]

@@EnglishCountryLife :)

[@HeyitsthatgirlAshley]

I don't have chickens but my 7 year old and I really enjoyed the informative video! We learned a lot! You care for you Hens so nicely they are lucky to have you!

[@EnglishCountryLife]

So nice of you

[@sevraonic8656]

Your hens are really really lucky to have you take care of them. 😁

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Thank you. That's so kind of you

[@josiahgeorge5478]

@@EnglishCountryLife if I let you babysit my hens, they would follow you, and leave me, you spoil your girls, lots of love

[@laurelrockefeller]

Love this. Also glad that cockatiels don't incubate more than 5 at once! I like that part about the high energy during the meal breaks she takes. I saw Arwen doing that this morning after coming out for breakfast after her overnight sit on her four eggs. she spent probably five straight minutes flying at high speed and showing off her aerial dexterity.

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Hi Laurel! Lovely to see you over here :-) I find the parallels between the chickens and Arwen fascinating. Having said that I suppose that sitting in position for 23 hours must cause a need to move and to be energetic if only for a short period. I think I would be the same if it were me.

[@laurelrockefeller]

@@EnglishCountryLife Fortunately Arwen doesn't sit for 23 hours straight. this is partially because cockatoos, regardless of the species, take turns between the parents in sitting their eggs. The fathers sit about 50% of the time, allowing the mother to leave the nest to eat, fly, etc. Except overnight when it's safest for everyone to be in the nest hollow, they take about 2-6 hour shifts, depending on the pair. Of course since Arwen is not married, she's not following that same schedule. but of late she's breaking up her time more, especially since she sleeps on her eggs at night.

[@nl1927]

My granddaughters loved watching this! One of my 8 grandaughters is also named Fiona!

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Hello fellow Fiona (waves)

[@tuvelat7302]

Great video. Clear and concise with great information.

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Thank you so much!

[@todphillips3935]

Thank you, Ma’am, for the education.

[@EnglishCountryLife]

You are very welcome Tod

[@paigeseliger836]

I'm so excited to get my first chicks tomorrow! Two dozen buff orpingtons to start, with a goal of keeping the best ones to lay and brood in later years. They're such a gorgeous breed, and so sweet

[@EnglishCountryLife]

How wonderful - that's brilliant

[@laurietremblay5692]

Fantastic video. Thank you for sharing your caring knowledge.

[@EnglishCountryLife]

So pleased that you liked it 😀

[@Sierra-ds8do]

Thank you for making this video! This was REALLY helpful!!!

[@EnglishCountryLife]

We are so glad 🙂

[@heartcompass369]

Awesome clear presentation with all the bits of information I was needing to hear. Thank you so much.. I love your stuff!

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Thanks fo much

[@Mom_Non]

I thoroughly enjoy your hens and videos! Thank you 😊

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Thanks so much 🙂

[@Sweettomatovine]

Very useful information. Great job 🍅🌱

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Thank you

[@AnnsTinyLife]

Really great info! Very useful because I one day hope to have chickens. This one is going on my favorite things playlist!

[@EnglishCountryLife]

You are really kind! Thank you so much

[@amybyrd419]

Fascinating!

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Thank you

[@d.b.7444]

Thank you 😊 I absolutely loved this!

[@EnglishCountryLife]

You're so welcome!

[@Christ_Is_Life10-10]

Beautiful birds!

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Thank you 😊

[@sharonleslie762]

Thank you! That was very well done and helpful.

[@EnglishCountryLife]

You're very welcome!

[@melissarain9138]

Fabulous video! Thank you.

[@EnglishCountryLife]

So glad that you liked it Melissa

[@charlierose2104]

They are beautiful ❤️

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Thank you so much 😊

[@KellysGarden]

This is an excellent video!! Thank you!!

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Thank you

[@CCCFattyChickens]

Nice:) Such fluffy gentle giants you have! Their babies are adorable:)

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Thank you - we love them

[@gereshomeE]

VERY informative THANK YOU! ☺

[@EnglishCountryLife]

So glad that you liked it 🙂

[@nathansearer123]

We have our first brood hen and can't wait to meet her babies!

[@EnglishCountryLife]

It's a fantastic experience - good luck 🤞

[@blacksmithtv5069]

I love and appreciate your work 🙏

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Thank you!

[@blacksmithtv5069]

@@EnglishCountryLife You're welcome 🙂

[@nashwaran473]

Wow very good explanation

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Thanks and welcome

[@notperdi7469]

They look so fluffy

[@EnglishCountryLife]

They are :-)

[@bigdawg2011]

@@EnglishCountryLife I had one, she was sweet but coyotes wanted food 🥺

[@EnglishCountryLife]

@@bigdawg2011 Oh no!

[@franciscosalas]

Thanks for the video

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Glad you liked it 🙂

[@victoriakendrick6906]

She's so right about the cockerel chick dilemma.My broody (Abbey) hatched three eggs. Only one turned out to be a hen chick.The other two were male.I had the 1st time joy of seeing mum rear her three youngsters.The three chicks are now 23wks.old.I still have them all.I want to keep them. However the adolescent crowing has started and minor fights .....but not with the dad.

[@EnglishCountryLife]

I hope you're able to keep them.

[@pendejopenaputoazcarraga7261]

Exelente video. De cuidado. De estas gallinas. Presiosas

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Thank you

[@aaarrrggghhhh]

I remember watching a Wartime Kitchen Garden video on youtube and they stored eggs in water glass (hydrated lime and water) in a bucket as they didn't have fridges.

[@EnglishCountryLife]

We have a video on that very subject! Both Harry Dodson & Ruth Mott from that series are heroes of mine. Hugh kzbin.info/www/bejne/p3nFpqWEaqaFmqM

[@AliAkbar-ul1bz]

Very good

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Thank you

[@anitahagstrom1485]

Love this! I'm in my first year with buff orps as well. Have a broody hen- have given her eggs to hatch. Just trying to figure out a broody setup that will be easy to get going and still allow the flock to remain integrated

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Our favourite set up is a Garden Life Direct walk in run and a Nestera ground coop inside our chicken run. This gives separation whilst she broods, an outside space for the broody to poop but keeps her in contact with the flock. We let her & the chicks out on day 2 under supervision. You can see the setup here kzbin.info/www/bejne/fpmoeKpqZbudgZI

[@patriotu.s.elections7879]

Bravo !

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Thank you!

[@patriotu.s.elections7879]

@@EnglishCountryLife I have a Silky Broody that loves sitting on our un fertile breakfast eggs . So I thought I would give this a try and let her be a real mommy. Ordered six Ayam Cemani hatching eggs. Digging into all of these how videos. Your video is very helpful . People like you that take the time to teach others is priceless . Thank You from Thomas of Alvada Ohio

[@EnglishCountryLife]

@@patriotu.s.elections7879 That's very kind of you Thomas, thank you!

[@scarletpeate]

Lovely filming. We have got a brinsea cabinet incubator and it's full at the moment. Our hybrid hens have laid really well over winter.

[@EnglishCountryLife]

That's great. I might just be a wee bit jealous 😀 We have to wait for the hens to be broody but it is so amazing seeing them nurture the the chicks.

[@reneebrown2968]

I love to hear the hens' egg song.

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Me too - if it isn't too long 😉

[@stayfreestrongtv]

Thanks for sharing🌷🌷🌷

[@EnglishCountryLife]

You are so welcome!

[@stayfreestrongtv]

@@EnglishCountryLife 🌷🌷🌷

[@edenhomestead5382]

This was an exceptionally well done video! Thank you so much! Our broody hen just hatched her 1st chick, and this video has been a tremendous help, and has some great information on how incredible it is the way that God has fashioned His creation. You now have another Subscriber! ;)

[@EnglishCountryLife]

I'm so glad that it was helpful 🙂

[@pebble2573]

I’m so excited because i have a broody chicken so we bought fertilized eggs so now she is going to be a mom on june 4 :)

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Fabulous! We have two broods due on June the 6th! Will you candle yours?

[@Shakashack2022]

Thank you for this excellent video for us to learn about the process! Beautiful hens! I’m a visual learner, so this helps tremendously. Right now, we don’t have the land space to home chickens, but maybe one day. Until then, I’ll enjoy your videos & share with friends. 😊

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Please feel free to be virtual chicken keepers 😉

[@donnakuhl2419]

I've been learning much online...about the hormones and zone a broody hen goes into..I have had many hens who want to brood..and have had to broken the brood by holding her, putting a cool cloth on her unfeathered chest and hold and caress her in front of a fan and have food and water right there for her only..it seems to work thus far..it is gentle but I have hens who relentlessly wants to be a momma...I do collect eggs everyday..but I am at my limit for owning chickens...21 is enough for eggs and pets here..xoxox

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Its an interesting behaviour & highly breed based. All of our Orpingtons are currently broody - but none of the Marans. Legbars go broody maybe 25% of the time

[@ebenezermensah5858]

Nice job

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Thank you

[@AhamedIfham]

Great video. I am gonna place the eggs today in my broody hen. Wish me luck :)

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Good luck 🤞🤞🤞🤞☺️

[@bethcochlin8715]

Thanks

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Thank you Beth, that's very kind of you 🙂

[@reneecasey5719]

good info

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Thank you

[@jonnypickett2546]

You guys do some great videos :0)

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Oh Jonny! I am so pleased you've commented. You and Jane are welcome to visit anytime :-)

[@bgtrev]

Good video, well explained, our first Little O's of the year have just gone outside (8 wks old) temperatures here mean this batch were hatched in the incubator, currently ten ducklings (2 wks old) are being acclimatised to the outside under the guard of our gander, our Muscovies are currently egg sitting and goose eggs being collected ready for our first attempt hatching them.Good to see and learn from others. Thanks for posting the video.

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Thank you so much! It sounds like you have your hands full. I hope it goes well for you. I have some other videos under the playlist "Breeding chickens" that covers some of the issues we have had. I hope they help. 95% of the time it has all gone incredibly smoothly.

[@bgtrev]

@@EnglishCountryLife Will have a look through them, thanks again.

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Anytime. If you have any question just ask :-)

[@et6493]

I am very happy to have found this video and your Channel. Buff orphingtons are the newest edition to my flock I have 2 hens in a car crawl and they are just maturing now. Once again thank you by the way I am located in the most Southern portions of the United States.

[@EnglishCountryLife]

So glad that you enjoyed it. We are Buff Orpington breeders hopefully you can find other useful content on the channel. Welcome to a fellow Orpington fan 🙂

[@hedgecomber]

Brilliant video Fiona! I miss having those cute little balls of fluff around 🐣

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Now is the time to pop some eggs in the incubator or pop them under an obliging broody?????

[@adelawad1111]

@@EnglishCountryLife What is the name of this kind of hens?, please 😊😊

[@EnglishCountryLife]

@@adelawad1111 The golden yellow chickens are Buff Orpingtons

[@WildwoodTV]

13:09 broody hen explosion! Our Cilla is broody already! Thanks for the video 🐔👍

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Wow that's early!

[@juliadickenson178]

Fantastically useful and interesting, thankyou! Was about to buy an incubator but no, will just raise them with a broody mother, sadly I only have one!!!

[@EnglishCountryLife]

So glad that you liked it. Nothing wrong with doing both. We use incubators to help broody hens have large clutches . We discuss our combined approach here kzbin.info/www/bejne/bKuWnJ6bgM9soLM

[@fourfoldhomestead2404]

Thank you for the clear, informative video! I've kept chickens for years, but I just had my first successful hatch under a broody hen today! I wanted to be sure I was doing everything well. I'm so proud of my rooster and the little mama that decided to hatch her clutch. We have American Dominiques so I'm hoping for those sex linked traits to help me see pretty soon how many little boys and girls I have.

[@EnglishCountryLife]

How exciting! Do let us know what you end up with?

[@fourfoldhomestead2404]

@@EnglishCountryLife 9 babies on the last count. It is amazing letting Mama do all the raising. I love seeing animals at work. That's why I let my Nigerian Dwarf goats dam raise as well. The babies learn so much from mom.

[@EnglishCountryLife]

@@fourfoldhomestead2404 How fantastic! That's great news 😁

[@JenniferSaxin]

Great video! I'm planning to get our first three Orpington hens soon and would love to hatch some babies out later.

[@EnglishCountryLife]

We absolutely love Orpingtons - we hope you enjoy yours as much as we do

[@Adnancorner]

omg can i sit near those babies... awww so cute eating the worms.. my cuties

[@EnglishCountryLife]

They are very cute as chicks

[@SunshineCountryChickens]

Merry Christmas everyone I am close to 150 subscribers I love you all ❤️💚 ❤💚️

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Congratulations and thank you

[@heartsandmindsathome]

Thank you, so much! This is the most helpful video I've found, as I consider what do with our next broody hen. We've only had six hens and one rooster - one hen has stopped laying and we lost one hen to a hawk yesterday. I'm hoping to replenish our loss by hatching our own chicks soon, and you've provided some important things to consider here! So, just to make sure I understood correctly, you can have the selected eggs on the counter for 2 weeks before setting them under a hen to incubate? Do you candle your eggs to verify fertilization, or is that unnecessary? Again, thank you so much. Your content is a huge help to beginners such as myself!

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Yes indeed, you can store unrefrigerated eggs for up to 14 days before starting incubation. We do candle eggs. We did a series this year following a broody hen right through & we showed the candling process in this video kzbin.info/www/bejne/Z5zdlqZ6gZhko6M

[@heartsandmindsathome]

@@EnglishCountryLife That's wonderful, thank you!

[@ollys.3424]

Great video! Thank you, Fiona! How do you manage to have so thick green and fresh looking grass? Do you sow it regularly? Thank you

[@EnglishCountryLife]

The simple answer is that it's and ENORMOUS space for only a few chickens. It doesn't stop them digging and I regularly have to patch small areas with grass seed and more soil.

[@amandarobertson8863]

Thanks, love your videos! Do you separate out fertile and non fertile eggs, or separate off some chickens so you have non fertile eggs to sell?

[@EnglishCountryLife]

What a good question. We don't separate the eggs. We like to have all of the hens running around the field together so we wouldn't know what is fertile or not. Before an egg begins an incubation period there is no difference between a fertile and non fertile egg if you are going to eat it. They look and taste the same. In fact there have been stories of people purchasing free range eggs for eating from the supermarket, setting them in an incubator and successfully hatching them. The only eggs we separate are the Cream Legbar (the little grey hens) and the Marans (the black hens) eggs. Their eggs are blue and chocolate brown respectively so we can tell them apart from our Buff Orpington eggs. That's because we only incubate and hatch pure breed Buff Orpingtons. As the other hens eggs are easily distinguishable, they all can run around our field together. Does that help?

[@davidburgess5038]

Excellent video, very informative, really enjoyed it! You have lovely Floofs! See you on Twitter... David

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Thanks David. I'm glad you like the daily Floofs. Now I've got you hooked I just need to feed the addiction :-)

[@patricklarry6645]

Chickens are so funny.

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Watching them is a great way to waste an hour!

[@rogerbuoy8418]

Hi Hugh and Fiona, love your videos so far, we were thinking about keeping chickens a few years ago but were put off by all the rules that had been brought in because of avian flu. It would be really helpful to know what the laws are in the UK today. Can you feed kitchen scraps? How many birds can you keep before you have to register? I'm certain others would find this kind of info really useful too.

[@EnglishCountryLife]

That's a great idea and I'll make a video on that. You can't feed kitchen scraps to chickens because if the risk of contamination from meat. The rule was brought in after the CJD/BSE scandal. If you peel your carrots outside in the garden, you can feed those scraps. It's all about proximity to meat preparation areas. Once you have 50 birds at any one time you must register with Defra and that applies if you have mixed poultry counting all of your chickens, ducks, geese etc. Does that help?

[@rogerbuoy8418]

@@EnglishCountryLife That's great, thanks. There are loads of "homesteading" type videos on here, but unfortunately most are based in the USA so I think a lot of what they say doesn't apply to us, for example, they often talk about letting chickens scratch through the compost heap. I guess that would be a no-no for most of us because of the possibility of meat contamination. Is it okay to free range chickens now, or do they still need to be kept under netting?

[@laurelrockefeller]

Isn't it fascinating how different orders of birds and different families within orders of birds all handle egg incubation and parenting differently. All niched to the specific needs of each species and each family. For example, sometimes with cockatoos a pair will start another clutch when the previous chicks are still with their parents and not quite ready to set off on their own. this makes sense with the larger species that, while flying and no longer living in the nest hollow after about 3-4 months, still have a childhood lasting up to five years before they are mature enough to find a life partner and start families of their own. Given these same species live from 60-120 years and are life long monogamous, it only makes sense they stick close to home and with younger siblings. Those same species tend to lay just 1 egg at a time.

[@EnglishCountryLife]

That's fascinating

[@laurelrockefeller]

@@EnglishCountryLife When you think about it, humans follow a similar pattern as cockatoos. depending on species, cockatoos tend to lay 1-5 eggs. Humans tend to have up to about 4-5 babies in a pregnancy. Both humans and cockatoos frequently have additional offspring before the first ones are fully mature and living on their own. Like a typical situation where a second human child is born 3-6 years after the first one, causing siblings to be raised together with space between. same idea.

[@EnglishCountryLife]

@@laurelrockefeller It always strikes me that human offspring are very slow to learn. Foals can stand in an hour, walk in a day & run in a week

[@laurelrockefeller]

@@EnglishCountryLife Relative to size, especially brain size, humans are not very smart. Humans and parrots have roughly the same intellectual capacities -- but the human brain is between 1 kg and 1.75 kg (females having the smaller and lighter brains). The largest parrots (whose entire bodies weigh between 900 and 1300 grams) are doing that with brains weighing at most 200 grams. Cockatiels weigh around 85-100 grams. Hence, Mithril and Arwen are pretty much able to do what I do mentally -- but with brains only weighing around 20-25 grams. that's a massive difference in efficiency that is rarely considered when assessing intelligence.

[@laurelrockefeller]

@@EnglishCountryLife Isn't it interesting how similar egg incubation times and number of days before a chick's first flight tends to be fairly consistently in the 20 day and 5-8 week respectively range? That's across every order, every species of class Aves. Certainly there is a difference between a hummingbird and a chicken, a parrot from a peregrine falcon. Yet these basics for baby birds are remarkably similar in timing. Though there is a huge difference in what a one day chicken chick and a one day old cockatiel chick can do, the amount of time in the egg itself is nearly identical.

[@blacksmithtv5069]

Here in Africa just about anyone passing by my house would be happy to receive free roosters 😂. I have three big roosters, people often ask about them when passing by my house 😅

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Our surplus cockerels all become table birds

[@blacksmithtv5069]

@@EnglishCountryLife Nice. Same here 🙂. But I keep three roosters in the yard.

[@victorandrews9790]

Excellent video, learned alot for my chickens! What about introducing the chicks to the flock?

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Good morning Victor 🙂. With a broody hen, we allow the broody to lead her chicks out once they are fully mobile (about 48 hours after hatch). We have a large free range area so she will lead them around the other hens and cockerels. This will increase in range and chick independence for a couple of weeks. By about week 4, the chicks occasionally have sleep overs with other family groups!

[@hannailkinpromopage-canada4958]

Too cute- gone are the days of 3 eggs in our family. Value of animal food products, do I have eggs yes I do just one once in a while with lots of veggies, oats or toast.

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Thankfully our hens more than pay for themselves, so the eggs are free 🙂

[@H2Dwoat]

Hi, another informative video, thank you 👍. I have heard you talk about the cockerels being raised as table birds, what age do you butcher them? Also, what do you do with your hens as they age, do you also butcher them for meat?

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Hey! Excess cockerels become table birds at maturity so between 20 -26 weeks for Orpingtons. For aging hens we keep egg layers to 2 years old and brooders for up to 3 then pop them up for sale at a reduced price. They normally become family pets.

[@H2Dwoat]

Cheers.

[@MrPaddy924]

Quick question Fiona...We seem to have 2 simultaneously broody (Maran) hens, but just one brooder. Is it advisable to put 2 sets of mums/chicks together or would this cause problems? We've never had more than one broody hen at any one time before and are wondering what to do. Do we need to create a separate area? Any advice would be really appreciated!

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Hi, we go with separate coops and runs for each broody, but fully appreciate that this is not the right solution for everyone. If you leave eggs under two broodies, as soon as one goes out to eat or poop, the other will steal some or all of her eggs. If they have eggs set on the same day this is not too bad. If their eggs are planned to hatch on different days its an enormous issue. We've done it once with eggs set on the same day and they co parented well - but it was possible that they will fight.

[@MrPaddy924]

@@EnglishCountryLife Thanks Fiona, that's really helpful!

[@7777russ]

Nice video. Did you notice how much she rotates the eggs and how often. Some books say to rotate the eggs 180 degrees 3X a day? If I had a brooding hen I would video it.

[@EnglishCountryLife]

They roll the eggs every few hours but the amount varies When we use incubators, we turn at 45 minutes and 120 degrees

[@AnarchAngel1]

It looks like you have a very nice strain of Buffs. I would buy some fertilized eggs from you but I'm in the US

[@EnglishCountryLife]

That's a pity - as you know they wouldn't survive tge flight. We have been developing our strain for many years now and it's getting where we want it to be, large, calm birds, naturally broody and fully self sufficient

[@SuperTomGuy]

Hi Fiona, we love your videos. Could we ask where you’re based and if we could buy any POL Orpington’s from you please. Thank you.

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Thanks for asking but we won't have any PoL hens available until next year. Our spring chicks have only just hatched and we already have a waiting list of people to buy any excess PoL that will be ready in September this year. Sorry!

[@jmmarshall5492]

My Buff Orphingtons are doing so well. None have gone broody just yet, but maybe I will buy a few fertilized eggs to put under them when that happens. I hope it's not too hard to find homes for any roosters that might come from that occasion.

[@EnglishCountryLife]

If you are going to hatch it is important to have a plan for cockerels. You may get another breeder to take one if its a good specimen but rehoming can be a real challenge. We grow ours to maturity and process them for the table ourselves, but not everyone is comfortable doing that.

[@jmmarshall5492]

They are such beautiful birds, I'm hoping others will want the roosters to multiply their own flocks. If not I may end up with my own flock of roosters! @@EnglishCountryLife

[@MrzKhia]

Hello! Thanks for the very informative video. When I have a broody hen on a nesting box, can I easily transfer her to the hatching box where I put the eggs beforehand? Also, how do I choose the best eggs for hatching? And how many eggs may I put under the hen?

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Hi, we find that Buff Orpington hens can be easily moved. We often settle them on pottery eggs and transfer them with the eggs. We then keep them confined them in the broody coop for 24 hours with food and water. They normally then stick but attaching a run to prevent them returning to their favourite coop can be necessary whilst maintaining the ability to have outside space. Good eggs need to have been fertility tested. This is how we do it kzbin.info/www/bejne/l6DTkHpvqt-CjKM

[@loanvu8560]

Những con gà của chị rất đẹp. Cả khu vườn cũng vậy. Làm thế nào chị vẫn giữ được thảm cỏ xanh vậy?

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Hi, we simply have a very small number of chickens to a VERY large space. They still dig and tear up some of the grass but the area is big enough that we can repair it and they still have enough grass elsewhere in the field.

[@TyrannosaurusCHEX]

Do you think the hens appreciate being praised for behaving well when being held - I always wondered if they understand the concept of being rewarded?

[@EnglishCountryLife]

I think they understand calm soft voices and gentle handling and certainly come to understand humans being the source of treats. Ours will jump up on our laps 🙂

[@Arthur-ek7nd]

I just keep all my roosters (I give them away too if anyone is looking for them, but that is rare). I free range on 30 acres, so my flock just divides into a few hens following individual roosters around. I haven't had any issue with them fighting, but I have also made sure to breed the most docile roosters.

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Temperament and space is vital

[@t6nia]

I’m legit so sad, my hen was 5 days from the chicks hatching she had worked so hard, she got headlice and just stopped sittings because she kept scratching I’m so sad we are binning all 14 eggs away... the hype, the laughter, the excitement, the counting. It’s all gone I’m feeling so bad for the poor hen who worked hard, the eggs have gone cold and I’m so upset.

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Its always gard if a broody leaves the eggs

[@susancameron4910]

HI thank you for your video .. when you have the eggs where do you store them for the 2 weeks or until ready?

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Hi Susan. As I show in the video I store them pointed end down in an egg box until I have 12 for the broody hen. I keep the egg box in the house so they are at room temperature but never in the kitchen just to be sure there are no mix ups with eggs for eating. Does that help?

[@susancameron4910]

@@EnglishCountryLife Thank you for your reply ... I have a hen on 22 day eggs .. nothing yet I removed 3 bad eggs! 1 exploded 2 were thrown out the nest. I have 2 other broody hens .. they always seem to be broody! I previously hatched 2 chicks from 9 eggs fingers crossed for the next day or 2. As I am in Scotland it is cooler so an extra day or 2! I did the foat test 2 sank 7 floated well

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Strange you should should say it is taking a little longer. We have a broody that hatched at 22 days this week and a friend whose hens hatched at 23 days last week. It's never taken more that 21 days before for our hens. It's a very strange summer. I'm so sorry the clutch of eggs you had had such a high failure rate. We have had that before with eggs we have bought in. It's difficult to know how much they have been shaken through the postal system.

[@MysticMylesZ]

...how do you get them to be so calm? 5:44 I didn't know that... the way we got them to multiple was very simple... essential we'd set them free and hope they come back home 😅 I never kept track of it but I remember many returning with baby chicks; then we'd pick them up to protect them from hawks.

[@EnglishCountryLife]

They are calm because we handle them every day from the day they hatch. All our birds were hatched here and have been handled by us since their first day, they know that we look after them

[@leonwood5760]

I have always had laying hens but this summer is the first time I will be introducing roosters.. So once the eggs are fertilized and laid do you have to store them for 2 weeks before putting them under a hen or in an incubator or can it be done right away? I also have Buff Orpingtons by the way. :)

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Hi Leon. They are viable immediately but they start to develop as soon as she sits on them, so if you want to hatch 12, give her 12 all at the same time, otherwise the first ones hatch and she has to take them out to feed & the others go cold. Mark the 12 you give her and, if you can, give her a separate coop away from other hens otherwise they will pull her off her eggs trying to lay in the same spot or she will pull their eggs under her

[@pamelaremme38]

Thank you so much for this video! I have a broody buff. I learned that I need to separate her from my flock. I would like to know when I can allow her and the chicks to be mixed back with the flock. My flock of 12 hens and 2 roosters. Free range and a LARGE coop.

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Hi Pamela! We like to let the broodies sit in peace, but as soon as hatching is over & the chicks have recovered, we take the run away (around day 2). The broody ensures no harm comes to the chicks

[@pamelaremme38]

@@EnglishCountryLife Even with roosters?

[@EnglishCountryLife]

@@pamelaremme38 Yes they don't hurt chicks in our experience of Orpingtons

[@pamelaremme38]

@@EnglishCountryLife Thank you that is what I did only I waited until the chick has what they call "legs" Uno the one and only chick is now 7 1/2 weeks!!!

[@justesaint-louis864]

PLEASE, would you say where and at what temperature do you store your fertilized eggs for this 2-3 week period, while wating (I understand) to put them under a boody hen? Also when is the best time (weather wise) to plan the hatching period. (We are in Canada so we have to plan hatching for Spring but sometime snow stay longer in the field). We have Partridge Chantecler a rustic race for cold weather temperature. Thank you very much for those very useful video. Really appreciated.

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Hi! We simply store the fertilised eggs in our kitchen at room temperature in normal egg boxes. They must not be washed or refrigerated. We generally hatch under broody hens who sit in April or May but adjust to weather conditions. It's fine to hatch earlier with an incubator but they need to be kept warm until fully feathered at 8 - 12 weeks

[@justesaint-louis864]

@@EnglishCountryLife Thank you very much. Very informative video. Loved it.

[@buddhistsympathizer1136]

Another great video. My question . . . I guess there is no 'easy answer' to having cockerel chicks hatching when cockerels are not wanted. I know what happens to them in industrial production. Not nice. If you can't give them away and want to keep peace with the neighbours, is there any other answer?

[@EnglishCountryLife]

It is a very good question. For us we are a smallholding. We have a simple model. Unlike a commercial environment where cockerels have no purpose and are culled on hatch, all of our chivkens are grown to maturity and have a purpose. Hens are either sold or becoming broody hens and cockerels provide meat for the table. I appreciate this isn't suitable for everyone but we are not hatching hoping for all hens or that non-existent buyers appear for excess cockerels. Neither are we culling cockerels before they have had chance to live. They have a great free range lifestyle exhibiting natural behaviours. If you want to know more this video will talk you through our breeding cycle kzbin.info/www/bejne/gHXEfpRue8aqrK8

[@buddhistsympathizer1136]

@@EnglishCountryLife Thank you

[@melissarosenberg8145]

Your chickens are beautiful 😍 what do u feed them?

[@EnglishCountryLife]

We feed them on a pelleted chicken food which has a complete balance of nutrients and minerals. They also graze on the grass in the field all day, eat any windfall apples from the trees as well as getting the odd cabbage chard or broccoli plant straight from the vegetable garden. Does that help?

[@melissarosenberg8145]

What brand is it? Is it a layer feed?

[@EnglishCountryLife]

@@melissarosenberg8145 We feed either a brand called Marriages or a brand called Duffield

[@jameshall21320]

How long after the chicken and cockeral mate does the hen start laying fertile eggs and for how long does she lay them?

[@EnglishCountryLife]

If the hen is laying regularly, the cockerel will tread her regularly. Once that starts happening, partially formed eggs need to clear the oviduct and then all eggs should be fertile. Eggs will remain fertile for around 7 days after the last time the cockerel "treads" the hen.

[@reneebrown2968]

I can't have any roosters in my area, but my plan is to buy hatching eggs to swap under a broody hen. That way I can keep a healthy lot of chickens and regroup good egg layers. I plan on getting them 6 at a time. I know I will have to use fake eggs to get a hen broody. I hope it works.

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Fake eggs won't make many hens broody, it's more a matter of hormones. Most breeds have bred out broodiness, but dome (Orpingtons, Silkies etc.) still have it.

[@mjc63]

Hi Fiona and Hugh! I will be moving to a city that allows us to keep up to 15 chickens including 1 Cockerel in the backyard and I am so excited! I am a single person so I thought perhaps 3-5 hens would be a good start for my own egg supply and family & neighbors (to instill some good will). Imhad already discovered Buff Orpingtons but now I have no doubt that is my breed! Will the girls be as likely to go broody without a Cockerel present? The reason I ask is in year 2 or 3 if I want to add more hens I was thinking I could buy fertilized eggs, substitute them under a broody hen, then keep an unrelated Cockerel from that batch who could father successive generations. I am envisioning as I retire adding to the flock and eventually selling eggs or offering/donating chicks for 4H projects. I am in the US and the area I am moving has high poverty and food scarcity issues, so the city of Albuquerque, New Mexico actually encourages chicken keeping! I know an obvious answer is to just buy a Cockerel but once I am set up I would like a closed system to prevent the introduction of diseases and also to be able to select a cockerel for size, temperament, etc. as you have taught us! I cannot see myself “processing” extra cockerels or hens, but there are several nearby processing establishments I can hire out the dirty work to! I love your channel and also watched with interest Hugh’s winemaking video and many others. Thank you so much for your generosity and all you do to educate and share with us. Best regards, Michael PS if I am lucky enough to have a broody hen in year one but do not allow her to sit on eggs, will she be less likely the following year to go broody? Thanks again! MC

[@EnglishCountryLife]

We've found that with our pure breed Buff Orpingtons roughly 2 out of 3 hens should brood. The good news is that having a cockerel in the mix will not influence whether the hen is more likely to brood or not. It's actually triggered by massive amounts of the hormone that also triggers egg laying at a lower level. The increased levels are influenced by the number of daylight hours and weather conditions suitable for raising chicks. The only issue is that my statistics of 2 out if 3 hens is based on the traditional UK pure breeds. I have seen some hens listed in the US which are listed as Orpingtons which are the same pure lines as the UK but others which have obviously been diluted with egg laying breeds without broody tendencies. The Orpington Club of Great Britain has published breed characteristics which are worth reviewing before you buy. I hope that helps

[@mjc63]

@@EnglishCountryLife thank you so much Fiona. I will look for a supplier who has English lines. In my research I have found some advertising lower weights like adults of 6 or 7 pounds and instinctively that low and diluted.