Broody hen saving a lost bird’s fertile eggs

[Backyardtut]

Can you tell the difference between Dolly's eggs and Lolita's by looking? shell colour or shape for example? If so, I'd remove any that aren't Dolly's in order to avoid a staggered hatch, and maximize the chances of Dolly's eggs being successfully incubated and hatched.

Yes, the eggs are much different. She may only have 2-3 of her own under there. If I take the 8, will she abandon them or keep going with her 3?

 

[Perris]

I would take her 2-3 and leave the 8 if you want Dolly's genes to continue.

 

[Backyardtut]

The eggs your broody has sat on for 2 days will hatch 2 days earlier than Dolly's eggs, and yes your broody will be forced to abandon Dolly's eggs to tend to the early hatched chicks. You can have an artificial incubator ready to go at that point if you choose to go that route.

Since Dolly's eggs are very important to you, I would pull the eggs your broody was sitting on, leaving her with only Dolly's. However, unless you have an idea how old the 8 eggs are, there is a risk that one or more eggs will turn rotten and explode under your broody. That only happened to a broody hen once, before I understood how important it is candle eggs. It happened 7 years ago, It was the most disgusting thing ever, and I've made sure it never happened again. Dolly's eggs are beautiful, and hope you have a successful hatch.

Wow that is such a great idea! I could definitely remove Lolita’s eggs.
My only worry is she would go through all the stress of being broody and then end up with nothing. I guess my best bet would be to pull Lolita’s eggs, candle dollys tomorrow, then candle again in a week to check for any progress?

 

[Allsfairinloveandbugs]

I saw that @Perris gave the same advice I did as far as removing your broody's earlier eggs and leaving Dolly's 8, but I had already typed the first paragraph before their post came through.

Exploding rotten eggs are extremely rare.

It happened to one of my first broodies I ever had. I didn't know that it is rare but it is definitely the only time it will Ever happen to me!

Wow that is such a great idea! I could definitely remove Lolita’s eggs.
My only worry is she would go through all the stress of being broody and then end up with nothing. I guess my best bet would be to pull Lolita’s eggs, candle dollys tomorrow, then candle again in a week to check for any progress?

Do you have any idea how long Dolly's clutch may have been hidden? Unless they are already rotten, there is no way candling can tell you if they are too old to develop.

 

[Allsfairinloveandbugs]

P.s. except that very large air cells would be a big clue that they may be too old.

 

[Backyardtut]

I saw that @Perris gave the same advice I did as far as removing your broody's earlier eggs and leaving Dolly's 8, but I had already typed the first paragraph before their post came through.


It happened to one of my first broodies I ever had. I didn't know that it is rare but it is definitely the only time it will Ever happen to me!

Do you have any idea how long Dolly's clutch may have been hidden? Unless they are already rotten, there is no way candling can tell you if they are too old to develop.

I went into the abandoned home she had laid her eggs in two weeks ago, but it was dark and I can’t say whether or not the nest of eggs was there. I noticed one egg on a shelf and one on the floor that caught me off guard. That was the first time I saw eggs in the house. A few family members were inside of the home last week and did not notice the nest either. When I asked if they had seen the nest, they said they highly doubt the eggs were there but they can’t say for sure. The eggs were laid on a washing machine near the door, I feel like someone would have definitely seen them if they were there. But ultimately, I have no clue. Any time I have found one of Dolly’s eggs, it’s been somewhere extremely random. The last time I actually saw her lay an egg was a little over a month ago.

 

[Perris]

All that sounds positive for the eggs you've set under Lola. Four week old eggs can hatch.

 

[Backyardtut]

All that sounds positive for the eggs you've set under Lola. Four week old eggs can hatch.

Good to know! Thank you for all the great advice. I am very hopeful. If all else fails, I’ll be happy I at least tried. Losing Dolly was heartbreaking, but Lola going broody and then me stumbling upon a nest of Dollys eggs is almost serendipitous. There’s no reason not to try! If we get a baby Dolly out of this, we’ll name her babydoll

 

[Perris]

I hope it works out as well for you as it did for me. This was my hen who went missing after a dog attack

and this is three of the emergency hatch dustbathing some months later

 

[Backyardtut]

I hope it works out as well for you as it did for me. This was my hen who went missing after a dog attack
View attachment 3495712

and this is three of the emergency hatch dustbathing some months later View attachment 3495713

This makes my heart so happy! Fingers crossed!