Broody hen

[lucy1234]

Hi all! After some advice please..
I have a broody hen sitting on some eggs. This morning I went out and there was one cracked and melt very rotten!! Is there a way I can check the others?
She also pooed on them about 1.5 weeks ago and I read that they should be cleaned as it can kill the egg as gets inside the shell. Should I wash them now or will it be too late?
She has also got no feathers left on her stomach, very bare!!!
Look forward to some advice! Thanks

 

[drumstick diva]

Welcome to Backyard chickens. Do you have a rooster with your hens? If not, they can't produce "fertile" eggs that would hatch. That would be a reason for the "stink egg,"

Stink egg bacteria is worse than any from her poo. .Eggs have a protective coating to keep bacteria out but, when there is a breech(cracked egg) bacteria takes over. If she is sitting on non-fertile eggs they will never hatch(no chicks inside), so they are best disposed of before more pop open or explode. The contents of a stink egg will contaminate everything they touch. So a thorough clean up and disinfection needs to take place.

 

[lucy1234]

Yes she is on fertile eggs... Don't worry I am not that silly! Haha I brought some fertile eggs for her to sit on.
The one that cracked this morning spelt rotten so maybe it was a dud. Do you think the others should be washed? They have about a wee to go until hatching

 

[lucy1234]

Sorry just noticed you said to disinfect them? So it won't affect them hatching then hopefully? Wash in warm water?

 

[BantamFan4Life]

Welcome to BackYard Chickens! I am glad you joined us!

 

[nj2wv]

welcome to BYC !!