Brooding hen laying on eggs

[Mommachick87]

I have a brooding hen that has been laying on her eggs for 3 days now. She got up to eat this morning so i was able to see that she has 3 eggs. My question is how do i know if they are fertile? Should i take a flashlight to them and check when she is out?

 

[sourland]

You can candle them to check development, but I would wait another 4 days before doing so. Good luck.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Mark those three eggs. I use a black Sharpie but other things work. Then check under her each evening after all the others have laid and remove any eggs that don't belong. There are different reasons to do this, no good reason to not do it. She may not like it but it will not hurt her. If you are worried about her pecking you, wear gloves and long sleeves.

What color are those eggs? White is pretty easy too candle, dark brown get challenging, blue or green can be hard. Have you candles eggs before? You don't have to candle except for your curiosity. I never candle eggs under broody hen but curiosity can be a strong drive.

If you decide to candle wait until it is really dark. Put new batteries in your flash light if it is dim at all. Wait at least until night #7. Do not make any dramatic decisions after a first candling. Give them time.

 

[Mommachick87]

Mark those three eggs. I use a black Sharpie but other things work. Then check under her each evening after all the others have laid and remove any eggs that don't belong. There are different reasons to do this, no good reason to not do it. She may not like it but it will not hurt her. If you are worried about her pecking you, wear gloves and long sleeves.

What color are those eggs? White is pretty easy too candle, dark brown get challenging, blue or green can be hard. Have you candles eggs before? You don't have to candle except for your curiosity. I never candle eggs under broody hen but curiosity can be a strong drive.

If you decide to candle wait until it is really dark. Put new batteries in your flash light if it is dim at all. Wait at least until night #7. Do not make any dramatic decisions after a first candling. Give them time.

She is a 4 year old bantum and her eggs are a light almost cream egg. Will she brood if they aren't fertile?

 

[Ridgerunner]

Yes. She will sit on her eggs, other chicken's eggs, turkey eggs, a door knob, or her imagination. It doesn't matter if there is a rooster around or not.

 

[aart]

My question is how do i know if they are fertile?

Should we assume you have a cock/erel in the flock?

 

[Mommachick87]

Should we assume you have a cock/erel in the flock?

Yes i do. And i have seen them... Mate

 

[Ridgerunner]

There are several possible reasons eggs will not develop other than fertility. But generally if they are fertile they will develop if they are incubated. That part is out of your control right now. Either they are developing or they are not.

With those cream colored eggs you should be able to see inside them pretty easily. You can candle in a few more days and see what you can see. But right now you are here a lot of us have been, you need to be patient. I know, easier said than done.

 

[Mommachick87]

There are several possible reasons eggs will not develop other than fertility. But generally if they are fertile they will develop if they are incubated. That part is out of your control right now. Either they are developing or they are not.

With those cream colored eggs you should be able to see inside them pretty easily. You can candle in a few more days and see what you can see. But right now you are here a lot of us have been, you need to be patient. I know, easier said than done.

VERY easier said than done lol. I hope i can get some babies out of her!!! I am getting ready to incubat some quail eggs too so im excited that my farm is growing!!!

 

[Love my chickens 25]

She is a 4 year old bantum and her eggs are a light almost cream egg. Will she brood if they aren't fertile?

Yeah