broody not leaving nest

[Rick589]

Sell them, what don't sell as hatching eggs gets sold as eating eggs.

Was always curious about this. I assume the eating eggs are fertile eggs that are refrigerated. How do you maintain the eggs for hatching?

 

[Rick589]

If she's full on broody, she's not laying. Other hens depositing eggs in her nest?

I draw a circle around my eggs so I can quickly see if others are being layed so I don't get a staggered hatch or a mix up with parentage for breeding.

Same here. Once I notice she’s sitting I mark all the eggs I first find under her. When I find other unmarked eggs they’re removed to the refrigerator.

 

[wrathsfarm]

Was always curious about this. I assume the eating eggs are fertile eggs that are refrigerated.

unwashed, so no need to refrigerate.

How do you maintain the eggs for hatching?

Here's a good article about collecting and storing hatching eggs.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...-and-handling-of-chicken-hatching-eggs.76226/

 

[McChooky]

T

Best of luck with your hatch.
My best 2 hatches out of 15 broodys this year was 7/8 and 10/14 (actually 12, 2 eggs got broke early on).
I candled the 11 under my latest yesterday and all look developing at 8 days in. View attachment 4199233

Thank you! Your eggs are gorgeous!

 

[wrathsfarm]

T

Thank you! Your eggs are gorgeous!

Thanks

 

[McChooky]

Same here. Once I notice she’s sitting I mark all the eggs I first find under her. When I find other unmarked eggs they’re removed to the refrigerator.

My leghorns have been pissed ever since the Sapphire Gem went broody because she was in their favorite nest box when I moved her nest and all to a divided run ( they can't use the nest box right beside it lol)

 

[wrathsfarm]

My leghorns have been pissed ever since the Sapphire Gem went broody because she was in their favorite nest box when I moved her nest and all to a divided run ( they can't use the nest box right beside it lol)

I understand some people can't do this, but I block off certain nests if a broody is being bullied off her eggs. This forces me to get her off the nest manually everyday. Or I'll move her nest box to a cage or built in brooder under the poop boards.

 

[Mrs. K]

A lot of times, when the broody does get off the nest, other hens make a beeline to lay the eggs. Let someone else do the work?

If they are still on the nest, I have had the broody get into another nest. All is not lost, you just move her back, even if the eggs are cool to the tough. They will hatch.

However, last time, I pulled all the fake eggs, from the nests around her, and did not have this problem. I would still get a random egg once in a while, but my broody always got back on the right nest. Might have just been her, but I will keep that practice.

Mrs K

 

[wrathsfarm]

A lot of times, when the broody does get off the nest, other hens make a beeline to lay the eggs. Let someone else do the work?

If they are still on the nest, I have had the broody get into another nest. All is not lost, you just move her back, even if the eggs are cool to the tough. They will hatch.

However, last time, I pulled all the fake eggs, from the nests around her, and did not have this problem. I would still get a random egg once in a while, but my broody always got back on the right nest. Might have just been her, but I will keep that practice.

Mrs K

Yes I've found this to be accurate. I make sure there's no eggs in other nest boxes before she comes back for that very reason, just saves me from having to move/handle her too much. I've got a few hens that do graft to a particular nest, but some others don't care what nest they're in, or what they're sitting on.
Juggling multiple broodys can be chore, but I like my broodys on their certain eggs mainly for their sit time schedule, this is where I have a block off or 2 ready so no other hens can get on those eggs while she's out with her dailys.

 

[Rick589]

A lot of times, when the broody does get off the nest, other hens make a beeline to lay the eggs.

Certainly understand what you’re saying. But, I have paid close attention to when she was out and at those times all the other hens are accounted for. I certainly possibly missed one but I honestly can’t see how another hen had time to lay an egg in her nest. Isn’t it possible that a broody hen may still lay an egg or two while sitting, or is that completely improbable?