Broody hens

[animalwild]

Today I marked eggs so I wouldn't collect them to see if they would hatch. And every time I check I have a Wyandotte come up to the box, but I can't tell if it's the same one. Is it alright if tere are multiple broody hens for just one clutch.

 

[Pyxis]

Yes, multiple broodies are fine - are they actually staying on the nest? A hen that is truly broody spends all day and night on the nest except for a small break each day to eat, drink, and poop. If they're not on the nest all day and night they aren't broody and the eggs aren't going to hatch.

 

[animalwild]

Well we just marked the eggs today and I saw a hen come up when I was and then she was sitting when I left and then when I came backs own to check again I think it was the same one that came up but it hasn't even been a week since they all were layer because they all weren't layed on the same day

 

[Pyxis]

So I'm confused, she's just coming up to the nest when you're checking or she's sitting on it when you're checking? If she's not sitting on it constantly she's not broody, and she's not going to hatch any eggs.

 

[animalwild]

I had her come up twice when I was checking and the first time she went in and sat. The second time I checked the eggs had been shifted around. But I couldn't tell if it was the same chicken. Tonight I'm going to go down and candle them to see if their fertilized.

 

[animalwild]

Also today is the first day we've been able to check because we got back to our house yesterday so I don't know if they've been sitting on them

 

[Pyxis]

If there's not a hen constantly sitting on them they're not going to hatch, and you won't be able to tell if they're fertile by candling. If a hen had been sitting on them for five days or more you could see an embryo growing by candling, but since it doesn't sound like you have a broody hen I doubt you'll find that. To see if an egg is fertile without a hen sitting on it trying to hatch it you have to crack it open and look for a bull's-eye mark. If you have a rooster or two they're probably fertile. If you're not seeing a chicken on the nest when you're going to check or when you go in to check at night, they're not broody and they're not going to hatch those eggs, sorry.

 

[animalwild]

I do have a rooster and I have seen a hen sitting on them once when I've checked but I've only Ben able to check today because we got back to late last night

 

[animalwild]

Also the second time I checked the eggs had been shifted around could that be a sign of then sitting on them.

 

[animalwild]

I just went out and candled all I could see was flecks in some and others and a ring type thing at the bottom