Do incubated eggs hatch better under a broody?

[chickenfan]

My last eggs that are in the incubator are due to hatch tomorrow. I have a broody hen sitting and wonder if the eggs might hatch better under the broody? She has been sitting for 2 weeks but her own eggs have turned out not to be fertile. The incubated eggs are washed, so I don't know whether at this stage they are better with the hen or in a controlled environment.

 

[Marigold]

How many eggs have you got?
It might be interesting to share them, half to the hen and the others remaining in the incubator, if you have six or more.

 

[chrismahon]

Standard practice in rural France is to gather the fertile eggs and incubate them artificially. Then just before they hatch give a broody pot eggs to sit on. When they have hatched slip the chicks in overnight and remove the pot eggs.

So the answer is that broodies are not as reliable as incubators, but do a great job rearing. Leave the eggs until they hatch then switch them over.

 

[chickenfan]

Thank you both.

 

[Chuckchick]

I would agree with Marigold: putting some under broody hen and keeping some in the incubator would be good, but at this stage you should NOT move the eggs, or they may not hatch. :-D