Bantam hen went broody!

[americana-chick]

I dont know for how long because i didnt think she was actually broody at first but i think she has been sitting on about 15 eggs for 5 days now. i candled 5 yesterday and all looked like they where developing great

i try to count and candle when possible but my hen just wont let me touch her eggs! and it frustrates me because i think the other hens keep on giving her more eggs to sit on and i want to know at the maximum how many chicks to expect (i know none of them may end up hatching) LEts hope all goes well in about the next 16 days of incubation.
If any hatch.. well there will be picture overload!

 

[GaNewChick]

for a good hatch!

 

[shelleyd2008]

Take the hen off her nest and tuck her under your arm. Using a marker, pencil, crayon, whatever, pick up each egg and candle them. Mark all eggs that you see development in and put it back. Any that you don't see development in, take those and feed them to the dog, toss them in the weeds, or stick them in the incubator

Check and/or mark all the eggs and put mama back. Then each day you'll just have to go and take any eggs that don't have a mark on them. I use a marker to mark my hens' eggs with, a pencil gets rubbed off too easily under a hen.

Good luck!!

 

[americana-chick]

Thanks

 

[farmin'chick]

Although some folks say don't use a marker, I had 3 eggs hatch out of 10 I got from a seller...and THOSE WERE THE THREE marked with permanent marker instead of pencil.... Just a comment.

 

[jay1995]

hatching vibes!!!!!!!!!!! GOOD LUCK

 

[shelleyd2008]

farmin'chick :

Although some folks say don't use a marker, I had 3 eggs hatch out of 10 I got from a seller...and THOSE WERE THE THREE marked with permanent marker instead of pencil.... Just a comment.

I've used pencils and markers (whichever is handy when I'm marking bator eggs) and haven't noticed any differences.

ETA: Some people have even used nail polish to 'fix' cracks in eggs, and that doesn't seem to bother them either.​