My broody was off her nest today and I was counting the eggs, I hated to do it but the nest smelled soooo bad that I brought in another 5 eggs and washed them off and put them in the incubator. 3 are moving inside, one looks like it hasn't started incubating yet and the last one looks bad inside. That last one was tucked inside the shell of another egg that had gotten broken. I tried washing them with plain water, very warm but not hot, but the stuff wouldn't come off. I put them in a very warm bowl of soapy water and let them soak while I cleaned the others and then took a scrubby pad (plastic) to get off the stuff I couldn't peel or scratch off with my nails. Then I put them in the incubator to rest for a while. Later I checked them and that is when I found 3 of them moving around in there.
I am wondering if I should go ahead and bring the others in, out of the nest, put the fake eggs under her and slip the babies under her when they hatch. What does everyone think? I am also thinking about changing the nest lining but I'm afraid she won't go back to the eggs if I do. That she will stop being broody.
She is on about day 16 and I have already removed 6 eggs almost a week ago but there are more in there than there should be. There should be 8 and there was 12.
I am wondering if I should go ahead and bring the others in, out of the nest, put the fake eggs under her and slip the babies under her when they hatch. What does everyone think? I am also thinking about changing the nest lining but I'm afraid she won't go back to the eggs if I do. That she will stop being broody.
She is on about day 16 and I have already removed 6 eggs almost a week ago but there are more in there than there should be. There should be 8 and there was 12.