Day 1 with Broody Betty

[rsallison]

We want to get started with English Orpingtons, so I picked up some Black, Blue/Black Splash and Jubilee eggs from a breeder close by. I've got her on 15 eggs in a big kennel in the main chain link kennel with the others.
I wish that I had the dexterity to take a video while putting the eggs under Broody Betty. It was like chicken Christmas! She just kept clucking and cooing and making herself fatter and fatter to get them all under. She is soooooo content!
On a side note, any idea why she's going bald? No sores or anything, just no feathers around the eyes and comb. She seems totally healthy, so I'm not worried, just curious.

 

[rsallison]

Day 3
Oh, No!
We got home from church last night, and Broody Betty had jumped her fence and forgotten how to get back in! We found her sleeping as close as she could get to the nest, and when we lifted her over she ran like crazy to the eggs and settled in again. I don't know how long the eggs were uncovered, but it's pretty cool here in the Cascade foothills right now The eggs are only about 3-4 days old, is there still a chance that they are alright? I read that if the embryos are still really young, they have a better chance of survival? Also, will she reject eggs that are dead? I heard that a broody will roll bad eggs out....anyone?
Right now, she won't even get off the eggs to eat. I had to give her a bowl of seed right in front of her for her to eat.

 

[SilkieHenHoney]

They could still hatch, but they may be delayed a few days. And a hen will kick out eggs she thinks are not going to hatch, but candle them just to be on the safe side. www.the-chicken-chick.com Has info on broody hens & their eggs.