My sweet hen hatched all 8 of her eggs last May, only to have some nasty creature dig it's way into the barn and eat everyone at two weeks old (they were SO cute!).
The predator also ate 3 older chicks I had purchased, leaving me with my Momma hen, one older chick, and one rooster. A few weeks ago, my rooster went missing permanently. I wish I could remember just how long ago that was!
Anyway - we went out of town last week, and I told my husband that if he didn't feel like collecting eggs, I didn't care. I came back and checked the nest box to find nothing. I noticed two nights ago that Momma hen didn't come to roost on the porch for the night and I didn't see her in the morning.
Finally, today I went looking for her to find her snuggled up to the outside of the barn (hidden in a bush) and sitting on a whole pile of eggs.
I have no idea if these eggs could be fertile and am very tempted to leave them under her (instead of switching them out for fertile eggs from my neighbor).
I would just love to have chicks from this fabulous Momma and my poor dead Roo.
1.) Has anyone had such a broody chicken before? Do you think it's because she was allowed to pile up the eggs?
2.) Does anyone think there's a chance these eggs are fertile? Should I candle? I usually take a total hands-off approach and have never checked my eggs...resulting in all of them hatching both times (no duds).
Thanks!
Jen
3.) If anyone is close to Augusta, ME area and wants to give me some neat-o fertile eggs to slide under her, that'd be fine with me!
****4.) I think I'm going to have to figure out how to move her to a safer spot!!!*******
The predator also ate 3 older chicks I had purchased, leaving me with my Momma hen, one older chick, and one rooster. A few weeks ago, my rooster went missing permanently. I wish I could remember just how long ago that was!
Anyway - we went out of town last week, and I told my husband that if he didn't feel like collecting eggs, I didn't care. I came back and checked the nest box to find nothing. I noticed two nights ago that Momma hen didn't come to roost on the porch for the night and I didn't see her in the morning.
Finally, today I went looking for her to find her snuggled up to the outside of the barn (hidden in a bush) and sitting on a whole pile of eggs.
I have no idea if these eggs could be fertile and am very tempted to leave them under her (instead of switching them out for fertile eggs from my neighbor).
I would just love to have chicks from this fabulous Momma and my poor dead Roo.
1.) Has anyone had such a broody chicken before? Do you think it's because she was allowed to pile up the eggs?
2.) Does anyone think there's a chance these eggs are fertile? Should I candle? I usually take a total hands-off approach and have never checked my eggs...resulting in all of them hatching both times (no duds).
Thanks!
Jen
3.) If anyone is close to Augusta, ME area and wants to give me some neat-o fertile eggs to slide under her, that'd be fine with me!
****4.) I think I'm going to have to figure out how to move her to a safer spot!!!*******
