2014 breeding season begins, post your results

[casportpony]

I wouldn't worry about lockdown. A hen will still rotate her eggs anyway and still get off the nest.

My really good broodies won't leave the nest about two days before hatch and I don't see them turning them either.

-Kathy

 

[MinxFox]

Well the chick has to orient itself in the egg correctly for hatching and turning the egg will make that harder for it to do. I have had to help a peachick out before because it was hatching the wrong way and couldn't get out and I don't want to do that again. I am not a peahen and this is a very special egg so I need to know what day to stop turning. I would rather stop turning than keep on turning because that is the method that seems to work well for everyone and I need the best method for this egg.

 

[casportpony]

Well the chick has to orient itself in the egg correctly for hatching and turning the egg will make that harder for it to do. I have had to help a peachick out before because it was hatching the wrong way and couldn't get out and I don't want to do that again. I am not a peahen and this is a very special egg so I need to know what day to stop turning. I would rather stop turning than keep on turning because that is the method that seems to work well for everyone and I need the best method for this egg.

I agree, I think one should stop turning. For peas I think it's two days before the expected hatch date, whatever you think that might be. Hopefully someone with experience will chime in on how they do it and why.

-Kathy

 

[Birdrain92]

My really good broodies won't leave the nest about two days before hatch and I don't see them turning them either.

-Kathy

Do you have the water and food near her? If so then there would be no reason to leave the nest since it's right there. What about at night? My old bantam golden cochin hen when she broods she seems as if she's not leaving the nest nor turning them but she does that at night and they don't need to stand to turn the eggs.

 

[casportpony]

My really good broodies won't leave the nest about two days before hatch and I don't see them turning them either.


-Kathy

Do you have the water and food near her? If so then there would be no reason to leave the nest since it's right there. What about at night? My old bantam golden cochin hen when she broods she seems as if she's not leaving the nest nor turning them but she does that at night and they don't need to stand to turn the eggs.

My good ones are in the house, so I know when they leave the nest, 'cause they leave a pile for me, lol.

-Kathy

 

[Birdrain92]

You're the only person I know that has chickens in their house. My hens they only move at night to eat and drink when brooding. Unless I move them of course.

 

[casportpony]

You're the only person I know that has chickens in their house. My hens they only move at night to eat and drink when brooding. Unless I move them of course.

Not all of them are in here, lol, only a couple, and because of that, I've been able to observe them and broody behavior. Once those eggs start moving, they don't leave the nest and they sure don't actively turn them.

-Kathy

 

[Birdrain92]

My hens still turn eggs and leave the nest until the chick is hatching then they stay with the nest. How I know because I will mark one side of the egg and give it back to them and it's always changing. My hens will just barely hover above the eggs when turning. My chickens will wait until my other chickens roost before they get out of their nest. Do these hens just poop in the nesting basket or somewhere else? Being in that small area for 48 hours or more the poop will be built up I'm sure.

 

[casportpony]

Most only poop when they leave the nest, but some will poop in the nest. FYI, they can hold their poop for a couple of days.

-Kathy

 

[Birdrain92]

OK. I was going to say do you have them potty trained. My ducks only poop in one spot of their pen so it's easy to clean.