5 weeks is a long time. Hens are different. When it was getting close to day 18/19 I would pour her feed in a pyramid shape--gently---the next day if it had not been touched and still in that shape----I knew she was into Lock--Down so to speak. They all would come off the nest in 2 or 3 days after not toching their feed with a nest of babies.
Sure. I give mine 2 or 3 days to settle---to make sure she is going to stay on the nest. I usually set her a couple days before I move her---I bought some ceramic eggs and i might try using them till I get her moved. Keep in mind all my nesting boxes are modified plastic milk crates and are movable-----which I feel is important. I get the hatching pen ready---food and water----then that night--in darkness I pick up the nesting box--with hen and carry it gently and place it in the hatching pen. If its so dark I can not see---I quickly(less than a second) flash my DIM light on and off to get my bearings. I quickly back away from the hatching pen---no noise. The next morning as its getting day light she will look out and see she is in a different place but she can see her food and water---nothing bothering her. She will settle right in. When its her 2nd or 3rd time to the hatching pens----they know what happen and seem so happy for the move. 63 last year and everyone accepted the move.
How big are those pens? I need to build something for next time.Sure. I give mine 2 or 3 days to settle---to make sure she is going to stay on the nest. I usually set her a couple days before I move her---I bought some ceramic eggs and i might try using them till I get her moved. Keep in mind all my nesting boxes are modified plastic milk crates and are movable-----which I feel is important. I get the hatching pen ready---food and water----then that night--in darkness I pick up the nesting box--with hen and carry it gently and place it in the hatching pen. If its so dark I can not see---I quickly(less than a second) flash my DIM light on and off to get my bearings. I quickly back away from the hatching pen---no noise. The next morning as its getting day light she will look out and see she is in a different place but she can see her food and water---nothing bothering her. She will settle right in. When its her 2nd or 3rd time to the hatching pens----they know what happen and seem so happy for the move. 63 last year and everyone accepted the move. This is one of the 4 section hatching pens I have. I have about 20 different hatching pens that I use when needed.
They are 4ft x 8ft divided into 4 sections which are 2ft x 4ft. The nesting box I set the milk crate in are on the outside which makes it easy to place the nest in and/or remove the hen or chicks after they hatch.
I think that was because of habbit---might be wrong. My hatching Hens have their own food and could care less with what the others do, but she is no where close her old pen either.
How did you decide they were all fertile if you DID NOT see veins or embryo's? Were there fully developed chicks in them? If so why would you question if they were duds??
