Day 25

[kelli lyn]

I have a first time broody that has been sitting on eggs for 25 days now. 3 look full with big air cells. Fourth looks like a dud. Should i give up on them Or wait a few more days? Stick New eggs under her?

 

[cavemanrich]

Wait a few more days. But in reality, don't get hopes up too high. You would be advised not to put fresh eggs under her now, because she most likely will not keep sitting on eggs for the next full duration. She quits and your eggs would be half way done.

You know the result then................

 

[kelli lyn]

Thanks. I was hoping she would hatch at least one but not too hopeful at this point. So what do I do if they don't hatch in a few days? Just toss them then put her back in the coop with the others? Or give her a few days with no eggs by herself and see if she snaps out of it?

 

[cavemanrich]

Did you candle the eggs??? forgot to ask.... I would toss the eggs after a few days.. The eggs are obviously spent at that point. Put her with the rest of the crowd... The next time a hen goes broody , try again.. Try to make sure that you are putting fertile eggs. Not all your eggs are necessarily fertile. Read up on some threads how peeps candle and determine their egg prospects early on ... Like day 7 or 8.
By looking at the yolk before you fry it for breakfast, you may be able to tell if your eggs are fertile. Sometimes it is a little deceiving. An egg that is not really fertile looks fertile.. Search threads on fertile eggs and you will see pictures and descriptions..

WISHING YOU BEST.

I don't like to use the word " luck "

 

[Cherie1n2]

Do other hens have axcess to her nest? I have one broody that tried to hatch for several months but other hens would get in her nest and lay and crack her eggs. Every one I opened that was cracked were between 10-14 days developed and alive but she never hatched one so I finally took them all away to give her a rest.

 

[kelli lyn]

I have candled them just putting the light against the air cell end while leaving the egg in the nest. 3 look full with large air cells. The fourth looks like a dud. She has cracked 2 others that were both duds. She is in our basement away from everyone else. She kept getting kicked out by other hens so we brought her in. Today is day 26 from when we brought her in.there are 2 Marans eggs and 2 green eggs so not being experienced in the candling department it's hard for me to tell anything else. I did see what could have possibly been a large vein in a Marans egg yesterday and could have sworn it looked like it was moving a little. I hate to give up on them if there's a chance they might hatch but I don't hear anything coming from them.

 

[Cherie1n2]

I'm so excited.. Two of the four eggs set to hatch are piping! I don't hear anything but I can see the beak through the membrane and movement through the shells.. I'm guessing since its both the pheonix/ameraucana that are starting that it's because of the smaller white eggs. I'm still hopeful the other two will start soon (those are off the ameraucan roo too but it could have been any of the brown egg ladies).