Broody v incubator

[Pooman]

So, have 15 rock eggs at day 20

Had a broody sitting reliably this week, so 8 under the broody and 7 into the hatching incubator 2 days ago.

Im hoping the broody is ready to hatch after only abouta week sitting on the eggs, im assuming she will hear them cheeping and not leave then nest. She has food and water right next to her.

Well the challenge is on, I'll let you know in a couple of days time what made it into the world

 

[nchls school]

So, have 15 rock eggs at day 20

Had a broody sitting reliably this week, so 8 under the broody and 7 into the hatching incubator 2 days ago.

Im hoping the broody is ready to hatch after only abouta week I did the same thing back in April-the hen had brooded for a week. The eggs hatched and she acted as though she had brooded the three weeks; accepted the chicks-no problem. sitting on the eggs, im assuming she will hear them cheeping and not leave then nest. She has food and water right next to her.

Well the challenge is on, I'll let you know in a couple of days time what made it into the world

 

[Pooman]

Good to hear. She seems a little more cranky today... That's a good sign

No pips in the bator yet... The broody, well who knows

 

[nchls school]

Good luck. I hope you get many chicks.

 

[Pooman]

It's day 21.5 (almost)

I can hear cheeping from the bator, but can't see any pips yet. 0/7 so far

When I checked the broody this morning, well there was an egg poking out the side... So thought oh no.. So I grabbed the egg and tried to push it under her.... Then it broke lol, so i pull it out and there is a perfect hat zipped off the top and a very clean looking shell inside.. Broody is at least 1/8

 

[Pooman]

Well th broody won, but there is more to the story. (At least I know something is wrong with the hatcher now)

So after yesterday's post. 2/7 in hatcher eventually hatched. First quite healthy, tho took way to long to dry off. Second had a large Swolen red bum... It's drying out and starting to go back inside, but it's looking a weaker than the others. There was another who unzipped mostly but died, the rest never pipped)

But the big news. Broody was found on the floor, outside of her raised box area.... A huuuugeee broody poo (biggest I've ever seen) and 5 eggs still in the nest.. 2 mostly unzipped, one pipped but full of yolk and 2 dead in shell. So we grabbed the 5 eggs, helped the 2 virtually unzipped ones out (they were shrink wrapped after broody left the nest). So this morning I grabbed the remaining 2 chicks from under broody and kicked her outside (marked as not a broody to be used)... She didn't seem concerned.. 5 minutes of puff ball and she is back to normal. So that's odd too. The chicks went to the brooder with the other little guys.

Main issue now is, what's up with the hatcher. I'll recailbrate and check temperatures. Humitdy was as normally used last year and we were getting 80-90% hatching. Seems we have a few more broodies comming on, so will plan to hatch under them next week.

So there.... Few potential lessons in that one.