Chicken turning eggs

[GoodOldDays]

So.

I've been wandering the internet but cannot find a legitimate answer.

As a broody chicken carefully tends to her eggs all day but...

Does she turn her eggs in the night?

Its now plaguing my mind. I have to know!

I would think that she doesn't, but then again she sleeps in short stints through the day and wakes up to turn the eggs who's to say she doesn't do the exact same thing throughout the night.

Any insight would be wonderful

 

[chickengeorgeto]

Yes, I think that they do because when I was still working I often checked on my sitting hens after work which means after dark. It is ridiculously easy to tell when a hen turns, shifts, or shuffles her eggs because the sound of the eggs scraping and clanking together is loud. Besides Janet Strombergs book: "A GUIDE to BETTER HATCHING" states that hens turn their eggs 98[?] times every 24 hours.

On the other hand I am unsure if checking on a hen after dark and shining a light into the nest did not prompt my hens to turn their eggs.

So to be absolutely sure get yourself a thermos of black coffee, and a comfy chair then sit down next to a setting hen and stay awake all night to see for yourself.

 

[pineapple416]

x2

 

[sourland]

Like chickengeorge I have seen a hen shuffle and turn her eggs in the evening, but also like him I don't know if it is usual behavior or prompted by my presence. The comfy chair and a thermos of coffee or bottle of whiskey sound like good options. Please report on the results.

 

[chickengeorgeto]

Like chickengeorge I have seen a hen shuffle and turn her eggs in the evening, but also like him I don't know if it is usual behavior or prompted by my presence. The comfy chair and a thermos of coffee or bottle of whiskey sound like good options. Please report on the results.

At this time of year a half full thermos of coffee topped off from a bottle of whiskey may be the better combination.