April Hatch Thread--Come Join Us!

[animaladdictions]

Okay, So I have a problem. I have a broody bantam. I tried to check to see how many eggs she was on last week but she tried to attack me, so I was going to leave her alone and do her business. I went to feed the chickens yesterday and I noticed she was sitting outside of her house. I figured this was my chance to see how many eggs she had, so I looked in her nest and there was nothing in it!! There were no egg shells so I don't think something got into the pin and got her eggs. Plus we have 2 different types of fencing around the coop and there were no holes anywhere... She was sitting on the ground right outside of her house..like she had moved her nest so she could get some sun. Is it possible that she moved her eggs with her? I am new to having chickens, so I know that is probably a dumb question but oh well!

Never a dumb question here... Butt no, chickens don't really "move" their eggs. One might roll out of the nest or something occasionally but she can't actually pick them up and move them. Now, if the outside part where you found her today is just inches away from where she was earlier, I guess it's possible that she could have rolled them out there...but still unlikely. Hens can go broody even if they don't have eggs. Had you taken any eggs from her nest before she started setting?

 

[animaladdictions]

I had ordered a new spot check thermometer from brinsea a couple weeks ago and when I received it the battery was dead. I said something to them thinking they would send a replacement battery since I had to go spend another $7 right after I received it, but they had something else in mind. Not that I'm complaining. This is their version of a replacement battery.

lol NICE! You could always send it to me if you don't want it...I'm always in need of a good "battery"!

 

[MadamContrary]

Okay I am attempting to upload a photo... Eggs!

 

[chickydee64]

Most likely she is just super broody and sitting on nothing. This can be stopped by putting her in a cage for a few days which will have ventilation under her or you could let her hatch someone hens eggs. Just check under her to find out i have been pecked by hens it looks scary but doesn't hurt just put your hand under and have a feel. I have never seen a hen move her eggs before??

Just a point of interest............I had a maran hen that would steal eggs.made me crazy trying to figure out how she was doing it.
Watched her one day tuck an egg from someone elses nest and return to her nest with it.............

 

[animaladdictions]

Also......I learned from a long time breeder about how to tell the days to lock down.
I also use this method for setting eggs and hatching. I always set on Sunday and they go into the hatcher every Thursday.
Her method is find day 21 on the calendar
So if set on Sunday....follow down to the third following Sunday.... three weeks from set date,then count back three days for lock down.
Hope I made that make sence??????
I mark each set on the calendar in a different colored pen and mark the eggs set with a mark of the same color.
Works for me....

I let the chicks tell me when it's time for lockdown...when they externally pip, they go to the hatcher. No marking the calender or wondering if it's a day too early or late. This has always been spot on for me. Everyone has their own methods it seems. I see people talking on here about keeping their humidity at 40-45% during days 1-18 and my mind is blown. I'd never hatch anything at that high of a humidity! It's amazing how different everyone's methods are and yet most people are successful...nature will find it's way!

 

[pogmobum]

[COLOR=008080]Just a point of interest............I had a maran hen that would steal eggs.made me crazy trying to figure out how she was doing it.[/COLOR]
[COLOR=008080]Watched her one day tuck an egg from someone elses nest and return to her nest with it.............[/COLOR]

I have a male bronze turkey that sits on my hens eggs, poultry are very weird sometimes lol

 

[MadamContrary]

Okay I am attempting to upload a photo... Eggs!

failed

My phone is not cooperative. Boooo.... oh well

 

[MadamContrary]

I have a male bronze turkey that sits on my hens eggs, poultry are very weird sometimes lol

Hilariously awesome.

 

[pogmobum]

Thats not the worst of it i decided i wanted some chicks so let a hen go broody, she gave up after five days (very bad mother ) the turkey took over straight away and i just thought wow i might still get my chicks unfortunately he gave up after 11 days and they didn't make it to full term so i never tried that again but the turkey still tries whenever i forget to collect an egg for a few hours ????? WEIRDO

 

[annabell254]

Hi, Funny broody story.
I have an Astrolorp hen that decided to live with the English Orps.
I take her out, she finds a way in.so finally I have just left her..........(she is in love with the Roo)
Anyway, I have been watching her because she has been acting like she is getting broody.
We lost her today.could not find her anywhere.
After much worry and stress.I found her.She was totally under one of the English Orp hens.............
She was in the nesting box and that big Orp sat on top of her....totally covering her with her feathers.............

Silly girls,they never fail on entertainment.

I can SOOO picture it!!!!

Just a point of interest............I had a maran hen that would steal eggs.made me crazy trying to figure out how she was doing it.
Watched her one day tuck an egg from someone elses nest and return to her nest with it.............

Little egg napper!

Too FUNNY!!!!