Broody Hen Thread!

[James Beller]

What does a bad egg look like when it is suspose to hatch like yesturday today or tomarrow??/

 

[James Beller]

I have broddies stacked up until the end of may lol there is going to be soo many chicks.

 

[nchls school]

What does a bad egg look like when it is suspose to hatch like yesturday today or tomarrow??/

If the egg is good, it should be completely dark except the air cell. You may be able to see the beak moving. Watch where the air cell meets the chick (dark part). That is where you might see movement. If the embryo has recently died the boundary between the embryo and air cell will become fuzzy looking. Just odd looking-hard to describe. Posting a picture of the egg being candled may make it possible to determine if the egg is viable or not. The picture would need to be a good, clear one.

 

[James Beller]

If the egg is good, it should be completely dark except the air cell. You may be able to see the beak moving. Watch where the air cell meets the chick (dark part). That is where you might see movement. If the embryo has recently died the boundary between the embryo and air cell will become fuzzy looking. Just odd looking-hard to describe. Posting a picture of the egg being candled may make it possible to determine if the egg is viable or not. The picture would need to be a good, clear one.

It is a broody hen who has 12 or so eggs and she constantly leaves the nest for a new one. I am a little worried because not even one has tried to get out.

 

[James Beller]

I have one boody who wants my others broodies nest and will not take any other nest. So the original broody to that nest stays to the side. I do not want the new one thinking it only takes a week before they hatch. What should i do?

 

[mymilliefleur]

I have one boody who wants my others broodies nest and will not take any other nest. So the original broody to that nest stays to the side. I do not want the new one thinking it only takes a week before they hatch. What should i do?

I would move her somewhere else so the broody that is sitting will be left alone.

 

[nchls school]

I have one boody who wants my others broodies nest and will not take any other nest. So the original broody to that nest stays to the side. I do not want the new one thinking it only takes a week before they hatch. What should i do?

Put another nest box beside the first that looks the same. The nest need to be such that the hens can each other and the eggs in both nest from either nest. You want it so they can not roll eggs from one nest to the other, but they are able to see the eggs. That way the hens won't pile into one nest, but each cover the nest of eggs not covered. Be sure that the original hen is on the correct nest at the time of hatching. The hens may switch nest throughout the incubation period, but that does not matter

 

[James Beller]

I would move her somewhere else so the broody that is sitting will be left alone.

She is a broody and i tried at noght to move her at day she will not take anyother nest but that one and niether will the original.

 

[James Beller]

Put another nest box beside the first that looks the same. The nest need to be such that the hens can each other and the eggs in both nest from either nest. You want it so they can not roll eggs from one nest to the other, but they are able to see the eggs. That way the hens won't pile into one nest, but each cover the nest of eggs not covered. Be sure that the original hen is on the correct nest at the time of hatching. The hens may switch nest throughout the incubation period, but that does not matter

There are identical nest boxes next to each other and so they cannot roll the eggs but all the other hens lay eggs in that one. i keep trying to move the invader but she just wont have it.

 

[nchls school]

There are identical nest boxes next to each other and so they cannot roll the eggs but all the other hens lay eggs in that one. i keep trying to move the invader but she just wont have it.

I guess then that the only thing you can do is either take a chance and let the hens share the nest or break one of being broody.