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Random question on egg turning/stopping

post #1 of 6
11/6/07 at 12:58pm
Thread Starter 

Ok, here's a random question..... we stop turning the eggs at day 18 or so to help the chick orient and turn in the egg for hatching.  That I get.  BUT....  Mamma hen would just keep on adjusting the eggs right??

I understand that if you are using an auto turner that you'd need to lay the eggs on their sides and remove the turner before hatching, but if you are manually turning and they are already on their sides, why do we stop turning when the hen would keep on adjusting and turning them?  Would it really hurt the hatch rate to keep on turning??

I always just wonder about these things when it works one way in the natural world, and another in the artifical incubation world...

Any ideas??

Arlee453 is Susan, mom to  (in no particular order...) 4 humans, a big-ole bunch of chickens, chicks, etc, 7 dogs, 3 cats, parakeets, peafowl, a few ducks and 1 neglected husband...
Visit my blog/webcam webpage:
Chick-N-Cam:  http://arlee453.camstreams.com/
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Arlee453 is Susan, mom to  (in no particular order...) 4 humans, a big-ole bunch of chickens, chicks, etc, 7 dogs, 3 cats, parakeets, peafowl, a few ducks and 1 neglected husband...
Visit my blog/webcam webpage:
Chick-N-Cam:  http://arlee453.camstreams.com/
Reply
post #2 of 6
11/6/07 at 1:04pm

Do we know that the hen keeps turning them? That would be the logical thing to ask. A good question it is, too, since we are trying to mimic natural incubation. We'd have to see if someone here has seen their broody hen actually turning the eggs right before the hatch.

 

~A dog on its owner's property is a pet; A dog on someone else's property is a predator~

 

 

Living the Good Life in the North Georgia Mountains~ Cynthia

 

 

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~A dog on its owner's property is a pet; A dog on someone else's property is a predator~

 

 

Living the Good Life in the North Georgia Mountains~ Cynthia

 

 

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post #3 of 6
11/6/07 at 1:11pm

Maybe it's the thought that it seems like hens stick pretty tight to the nest the last couple of days.  It's been a long time since I've let a chicken set, but I know my duck hens seem to not get up at all the last couple of days.....just set there quietly.

I'm a Farmer/Rancher  Wife,Mom & Grandma  No Farms, No food. 
If you want house chickens and ducks in diapers then this is the forum for you.
I've got 50+ years of poultry experience, but this 'poultry' forum isn't for me anymore.
If you're going to complain about farmers, don't do it with a full belly or a mouthful.
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I'm a Farmer/Rancher  Wife,Mom & Grandma  No Farms, No food. 
If you want house chickens and ducks in diapers then this is the forum for you.
I've got 50+ years of poultry experience, but this 'poultry' forum isn't for me anymore.
If you're going to complain about farmers, don't do it with a full belly or a mouthful.
Reply
post #4 of 6
11/6/07 at 1:19pm
Thread Starter 

Hmmm... didn't think about that - maybe mamma hen DOES stop turning the eggs, or at least doesn't adjust them around as much...

Anyone?

Arlee453 is Susan, mom to  (in no particular order...) 4 humans, a big-ole bunch of chickens, chicks, etc, 7 dogs, 3 cats, parakeets, peafowl, a few ducks and 1 neglected husband...
Visit my blog/webcam webpage:
Chick-N-Cam:  http://arlee453.camstreams.com/
Reply
Arlee453 is Susan, mom to  (in no particular order...) 4 humans, a big-ole bunch of chickens, chicks, etc, 7 dogs, 3 cats, parakeets, peafowl, a few ducks and 1 neglected husband...
Visit my blog/webcam webpage:
Chick-N-Cam:  http://arlee453.camstreams.com/
Reply
post #5 of 6
11/6/07 at 2:04pm

I have ten BR hens and one rooster for brown eggs personal consumption and hatch all my eggs under game hens when I need replacements I also eat all excess birds. I keep two game roosters and four game hens strictly for hatching eggs. The hens show less activity when close to hatching and just sit quietly, after a couple of days they abandon all unhatched eggs. I put eight BR eggs under a game hen and if hatching game chickens I let her set 12 . My game birds are spangled butchers and are the real deal but no I do not fight them.smile

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post #6 of 6
11/6/07 at 4:44pm

My broodies have pretty much stopped moving around and/or adjusting their eggs in the last few days.  They just sit there in the "broody trance" and wait for the chicks to hatch.

You have 2 hands, one for helping yourself and one for helping others.


Mom to 2 teenage daughters, one super husband, 6 horses, 4 dogs, 3 cats, and lots of chickens.
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You have 2 hands, one for helping yourself and one for helping others.


Mom to 2 teenage daughters, one super husband, 6 horses, 4 dogs, 3 cats, and lots of chickens.
Reply
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