dumb broody hen!

[stumble_n_mumble]

so my silkie hen has been doing really well with two duck eggs. (green runner eggs) and well i added 3 silkie eggs last night... i have been out there 3 times now and she has moved her nest .... but this time i went out there and she was missing one egg. it was poking out from under her.... does she have too many or what? this is her first time!

 

[stumble_n_mumble]

any ideas

 

[raimnel]

depends on how big the duck eggs are. I havent a clue, really I've never seen one.

when there under her CAN she cover them? If yes then I'd let her be. If she thinks not take 1 away

 

[stumble_n_mumble]

she can definitely cover all them she just keeps moving her nest all over lol is that ok?

 

[stumble_n_mumble]

still... everytime i go out there to check on her she is in a new position. all the eggs are still under her but she moves to different corners and stuff.... is this how she turns her eggs?

 

[RhodeRunner]

Not to be mean, I love my Silkies, but I don't know if they have much up there, but fluff. My hen kicked out her eggs on her first hatch, resulting in the death of all except two of her chicks. After that I changed her nest, as she was orignally just sitting in a pile of sawdust. I made a 1 ft by 1ft wooden nesting box that was 1ft tall. Inside of it I made a bowl of straw. She can't kick the eggs anywhere, and it helps hold them all under her, and she has had much better hatch rates. She is sitting on 12 eggs now, and doing just fine.

 

[RhodeRunner]

Quote:
Not sure, could be. But, then again sitting there all day I'm sure they move possition for their own comfort, as well.

 

[bunnychick]

Not to be mean, I love my Silkies, but I don't know if they have much up there, but fluff. My hen kicked out her eggs on her first hatch, resulting in the death of all except two of her chicks. After that I changed her nest, as she was orignally just sitting in a pile of sawdust. I made a 1 ft by 1ft wooden nesting box that was 1ft tall. Inside of it I made a bowl of straw. She can't kick the eggs anywhere, and it helps hold them all under her, and she has had much better hatch rates. She is sitting on 12 eggs now, and doing just fine.

Brilliant, I was trying to figure out what to do with our dumb hen. Same thing...she kicked out most eggs, hatched two. She also had 10 more eggs under her that were in earlier stages of incubation from other hens???? She then left them. Next time I think we will try your method. At least she got two chicks....we incubated 25 from the same time and ended up with none...guess that makes me the dumb hen.

 

[fancbrd4me02]

I have my own dumb hen, so i can't help you. Mine keeps mixing up her nest and I havn't had time to build a broody box for her. I keep finding her dozing on the WRONG NEST! I have to check on her every chance I get.

 

[stumble_n_mumble]

LOL! THIS MADE ME LAUGH.
im so glad im not the only one wiht the dumb hen. i am thinking of taking straw and making a fake nest held together by straw and such and place it in her house with the eggs in it. maybe she will realize she cant move them. she comes back the nest after pooping and she sits next to them and shifts all 5 eggs under her. then i see her get up and move and do the same thing... wouldn't it be easier just to sit in the same dang spot?!