Advice for newbie please: - Shipped eggs and Day 19

[GranmaEm]

Hi all

I have some shipped eggs under the broody hen. She has been pretty good about it all and today while she got off to have a snack and a drink I observed one of the eggs moving!

That was wonderfully exciting, but after staring at the others for a good while (that must have looked bonkers to any passers by) they do not move. At all.

What does this mean?

 

[sourland]

I wouldn't be worried. Day 19 is generally early for 'hatching activity'. I hope that you have a good hatch. Being a little 'bonkers' helps in keeping chickens.

 

[GranmaEm]

Being a little 'bonkers' helps in keeping chickens.

It appears to be an essential attribute. Never has so much fun been had and intense activity resulted from a casual comment!

I calculated the unit cost of each precious egg so far. I won't do that again

 

[sourland]

Time for an update = any activity?

 

[GranmaEm]

Well, another egg wiggled briefly. So we're holding our breath for some excitement tomorrow!

The broody will hardly let her 2 flock mates into the coop now (cue hurried construction of another coop..) but she had a leisurely wander outside today with a drawn-out dust bath and even some foraging thrown in.

I'll be on duty with my camera, that's for certain!

 

[mstricer]

If she is leaving the nest still, they aren't ready to hatch yet, she will sit tight when they are ready. Good luck. Broodys are the best for shipped eggs. You should get a good hatch.

 

[GranmaEm]

If she is leaving the nest still, they aren't ready to hatch yet, she will sit tight when they are ready. Good luck. Broodys are the best for shipped eggs. You should get a good hatch.

Thank you! I did not know that.

 

[GranmaEm]

She has turned herself around, not facing out from the nesting box as she has been for the past 3 weeks, but turning her back to the entrance and facing the back "wall".

Does this mean anything ?
(I also did not see her leave the coop today - but was out for a couple of hours, so may have missed it).

 

[GranmaEm]

It has pipped! Yay!

 

[ukhens]

exciting! i had 6 cream legbar chicks hatch last week under my broody!