- Apr 8, 2011
- 122
- 1
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This is my 3rd hatch, but first hatch under a broody hen. I started with 8 eggs, one I believe she broke on accident in the first couple days, and a couple days ago one exploded under her as I was picking her up to make her go take a break. Yesterday I saw an egg shell in the corner of her crate, but didn't disturb her, assuming she'd probably taken care of the mess (ewwwww!!!) . This morning when I went to check on her, I picked her up and there's TWO eggs left. She did excellent clean up. She buried everything in the pine shavings (and she really rearranged those shavings! High in some areas, almost bare in others) and I briefly wondered if she'd buried any intact eggs, and was going to go digging through to try and find them. Then thought better of it.. decided to trust her. I tried to candle the 2 remaining eggs but I couldn't see anything. Not even an air cell. I use my android flashlight app to candle, which is surprisingly effective, and its what I used my last hatch and I could see inside those eggs VERY well. So who knows, it could just be that the light on my phone is weakening, or particularly thick/dark eggs. I'd wishfully chalk it up to a nice healthy chick taking up too much shell to see anything (they're due sunday or mondayish) but then I'd at least expect to see an air cell! If i dont see one, could that indicate an imminent eggsplosion? I realized one mistake I would not have made with my incubator (but a wild mama hen would not think of!) I have my broody in the crate I used to put my ducks in for the night. So they pooped in there plenty, and I didn't sanitize it or anything. I just hosed it out and put in lots of clean bedding. And about the eggs, they came from my brother's flock. Which I have used for my previous 2 hatches with EXCELLENT results! Most recently, easter. When I went to pick some up this time he did comment that he wasn't certain they'd be fertile since he'd seen "a lot of running and a lot of chasing but not a lot of..." (well, you know) he has 2 roos and 20 or so hens. I set the eggs the day they were laid and they were not scrubbed or cleaned in any way (nor were they particularly dirty) Do you think this is a dirty nest problem, or an infertile egg problem?
She's already been sitting over 3 weeks (including the time before I set eggs under her) She's been SUCH a good mama to her eggs, I want her to get some chicks, and I don't want her to have to start over 
I'll bleach the heck out of her nest while she's taking a break and make the switch..
