BackYard Chickens › BYC Forum › Raising BackYard Chickens › Chicken Behaviors and Egglaying › My hen is not accepting the eggs!
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:

My hen is not accepting the eggs!

post #1 of 8
1/28/13 at 5:03pm
Thread Starter 

Ok, so my hen has been laying her eggs inside one of our empty horse stalls and we had no idea. She decided to go broody and lay on 22 eggs, but there was a problem, we dont have a rooster so all those eggs are infertile. So I bought 20 eggs and put them under her. it has been two days and she has already removed 9 of those eggs. I have not dealt with many broody hens so i have questions. 1. Is this normal? 2. Do i need to keep food and water with her at all times? 3. How many eggs do hens usually set on? thanks for any help!

 

P.s. she is a rhode island red.

Reply
Reply

Featured Stories on BackYard Chickens

Why Join BackYard Chickens?
Poll: Why raise backyard chickens?
The Basics Of Raising Chickens - Raising Chickens 101
post #2 of 8
1/28/13 at 6:15pm

20 eggs is probably too many for her to cover.  The 11 that she is down to is more likely what she is able to brood effectively.  Does she have enough bedding to form a bowl shaped nest?  This would help her keep the eggs under control.  Have the food and water within relatively easy access, but make sure that she must leave the nest to eat and drink.  Frequently when feed and water is provided directly adjacent to the nest, the hen will defecate in the nest which can potentially cause failure of the clutch.


Edited by sourland - 1/28/13 at 6:17pm
Friends are the family you make for yourself.
There are no coincidences- only providences.
Reply
Friends are the family you make for yourself.
There are no coincidences- only providences.
Reply
post #3 of 8
1/28/13 at 6:20pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by sourland View Post

20 eggs is probably too many for her to cover.  The 11 that she is down to is more likely what she is able to brood effectively.  Does she have enough bedding to form a bowl shaped nest?  This would help her keep the eggs under control.  Have the food and water within relatively easy access, but make sure that she must leave the nest to eat and drink.  Frequently when feed and water is provided directly adjacent to the nest, the hen will defecate in the nest which can potentially cause failure of the clutch.

thank you so much! i have only had one broody hen before. she was a silkie and only had 5 eggs! 

Reply
Reply
post #4 of 8
1/28/13 at 6:44pm

Good luck!  Hopefully she will have a successful hatch.

Friends are the family you make for yourself.
There are no coincidences- only providences.
Reply
Friends are the family you make for yourself.
There are no coincidences- only providences.
Reply
post #5 of 8
1/29/13 at 5:54pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by sourland View Post

Good luck!  Hopefully she will have a successful hatch.

she is down to 7 eggs now! im getting worried!

Reply
Reply
post #6 of 8
1/29/13 at 5:56pm

What type of nesting material have you provided her with?  How are the eggs 'getting out of' the nest?

Friends are the family you make for yourself.
There are no coincidences- only providences.
Reply
Friends are the family you make for yourself.
There are no coincidences- only providences.
Reply
post #7 of 8
1/29/13 at 7:06pm
Thread Starter 

she has a bunch of hay. she isnt in the nestboxs that i have built for them. 

Reply
Reply
post #8 of 8
1/29/13 at 7:14pm

Try pushing the hay up against her so that she is in a depression that will help to contain the eggs.

Friends are the family you make for yourself.
There are no coincidences- only providences.
Reply
Friends are the family you make for yourself.
There are no coincidences- only providences.
Reply
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:
  Return Home
  Back to Forum: Chicken Behaviors and Egglaying

Featured Stories on BackYard Chickens

Why Join BackYard Chickens?
Poll: Why raise backyard chickens?
The Basics Of Raising Chickens - Raising Chickens 101
BackYard Chickens › BYC Forum › Raising BackYard Chickens › Chicken Behaviors and Egglaying › My hen is not accepting the eggs!