Determining fertility? How many eggs?

[HuskerChickMom]

This is the second year I will be letting my broody hen hatch eggs. Last year I was a bundle of nerves and I'm hoping this year I will be a bit more relaxed (wishful thinking as I worry about those babies). I just have a couple of questions before I start this go round. First how many eggs do you think a large Australorp hen could cover? Last year I only gave her 6 since it was a trial run. I know she could cover more since my silkie took 6 easily and she's much smaller, but I don't want to overcrowd her. Also, what is the best way to determine if the eggs are fertile and progressing? Last year I had two infertile eggs explode in the nest and while I still had two chicks hatch, one was physically deformed (couldn't eat without assistance) and had to be culled. I really believe it may have been from bacterial contamination so I'd love to avoid that this year!!

 

[R&B Services]

i usually let mines set on 12. she did well hatching 11 of the 12 recently. as for progression of fertile eggs, i candle them around 7 days

 

[HuskerChickMom]

Thanks! I was hoping to try 12, but didn't know if that was too many. What method do you use to candle?

 

[chickenmeadow]

At 14 days: a small, strong hand held flashlight, cup your hand over light with thumb to index finger making a circle & rest the egg over that circle. They are inexpensive $5 to $10; the best one I ever used was an Ebo but lost it somewhere. Turn lights in room off. I will never keep an "iffy" egg again, kept one last hatch & it exploded away from the nest after all chicks hatched; a real stinker. Years ago I had one explode in an incubator; what a mess. Surely I've learned my lesson now. Happy candling!

 

[HuskerChickMom]

I'm going on Amazon to buy one of those flashlights now! Yes, exploded eggs are terrible!!! I knew right away something was wrong because my hen was very agitated and not sitting on her eggs. I washed the 4 that didn't explode, threw away the nest box (we use empty kitty litter pails) and gave the hen a washcloth bath (guess how well that went lol) and made a whole new nest! Horrible mess that I REALLY don't want again!

 

[chickenmeadow]

It will be interesting to see if the 4 washed eggs will be viable after the explosion of yucky stuff & washing that also removes the natural egg bloom coating, maybe mark them if possible. Well, I bet you'll have other eggs to put under her (all at once, so the hatch time is close) soon; that is, if your broody ever lets you anywhere near her again after her "bath". Have fun. Best wishes.

 

[HuskerChickMom]

That was actually last year's hatch and I did have two that hatched out of those four. One was fine the other was so physically deformed that we had to cull it. It couldn't eat without help or walk. I have no doubt those eggs contaminated his egg . My broody hen just went broody again so I need to get her separated from my others and get her some fertilized eggs because even though she is normally very docile, she gets very protective when she's broody and getting the fresh eggs from under her is almost impossible!

 

[R&B Services]

Thanks! I was hoping to try 12, but didn't know if that was too many. What method do you use to candle?

lol u might laugh but i used a small led flashlight i bought from ross for 3.99. it worked just as well as my maglight but it was small enough to cup my hand around the light. day 7ish i look for the veins in the egg. and like chickenmeadow i candle around day 14 and mainly look at the air sac. i wont touch them after and hope for the best. exploding eggs are truly a mess lol no fun at all!