[JaK]

It's day 18/19 for my hatching eggs. They are under a broody hen. Then ground under the nest is bone dry. Do I need to spray the egs to help the chicks ? Or should I replace the turf under the nest? I know all the eggs are fertile and alive and don't want to risk losing them. Thankyou.

[joyfull]

I never have and never will and always had a good hatch rate, remember hens in the wild don't carry around water sprayers and have still managed to keep the population going  .

[JaK]

  I can just picture mama hen marching around the coop with the spray bottle under her wing.

[Honeysuckle]

I can just picture mama hen marching around the coop with the spray bottle under her wing.

 

[Tattyanne456]

Someone commented on how dry the nest box was under my Duck, but she still managed to hatch out all the eggs just fine.

[Helenaj]

You'll find that your broody has pulled out all of the feathers on her breast - that allows not only better heat distribution to the eggs but also allows the hen's sweat to keep the eggs moist. Depending on what time of day it is, sometimes the eggs can feel wet, other times bone dry. Your little broody knows what to do best, so just leave her to it!