- Feb 28, 2013
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I have a EE mix hen that is hatching her first brood. She started with 9 eggs all marked on the same day, three got smooshed during her brood. She sat with 6 till the end and was surprisingly dedicated for a hen not quite 12 mos. I did find her off her nest on day 19 and her eggs mostly cold. On day 21 one baby hatched and I moved her, thee remaining eggs and her baby to the brooder. It's day 24 now and she's still sitting on her eggs faithfully. Does she know something I don't? I'd candle the remaining five eggs but honestly, I've candled eggs in the past and was dead wrong on what was inside.
And I hate making a mistake. Should I relieve her of her brooding duties? I had a bantam hen brooding at the same time and she hatched 7 of 10 eggs. And amazing ratio for a bantam.
FYI, I have three roos mating with my standards. My alpha is sterile. My beta is a mixed breed and I think is fertilizing my hens. My bantam roo is quite the ladies man.
And I hate making a mistake. Should I relieve her of her brooding duties? I had a bantam hen brooding at the same time and she hatched 7 of 10 eggs. And amazing ratio for a bantam.
FYI, I have three roos mating with my standards. My alpha is sterile. My beta is a mixed breed and I think is fertilizing my hens. My bantam roo is quite the ladies man.