Eggs

[geina]

Ok I have question, haven’t been getting but couple eggs per day and today I know why. Does this mean my hen wants to set? How long should I give her before I put them in incubator or how long will they be good to go in? They have been laying them in a secret spot.

 

[N F C]

Sneaky girls!

You'll have better luck getting an answer to your questions if you post under this forum:
Chicken Behaviors and Egglaying

Right now, you're in the Recipe forum.

Would you like me to move your post?

 

[geina]

Sneaky girls!

You'll have better luck getting an answer to your questions if you post under this forum:
Chicken Behaviors and Egglaying

Right now, you're in the Recipe forum.

Would you like me to move your post?

YEs please, sorry kinda new here. Thank you

 

[bobbi-j]

Hiding eggs doesn't necessarily mean she's wanting to set, it just means she found a place that she likes better than the nest boxes you gave her. You have a couple of options. You could try setting those in an incubator, but I wouldn't, not knowing how old they are. Or, you could mark a few and leave them there, so they keep laying in that spot. Collect the unmarked eggs daily, and when you feel you have as many as you want, put them in the incubator. You could wait for your hen to go broody, but she may not. I don't know how long you've had her, or if she's ever been broody, so I wouldn't count on that. If you want chicks hatched on your schedule, put them in the incubator.

 

[RWise]

I would be putting them in the bator, I get my best hatches from older eggs. 3 week old eggs I get near 100% hatch from.
Maybe candle them to see the size of the air sack,,
How long have the girls been hiding them?
What have the temps been (or could they have been frozen)?

 

[geina]

I would be putting them in the bator, I get my best hatches from older eggs. 3 week old eggs I get near 100% hatch from.
Maybe candle them to see the size of the air sack,,
How long have the girls been hiding them?
What have the temps been (or could they have been frozen)?

Temps have been ok yes I put them I put them in the incubator thanks for the tip on older eggs I always thought if not set fast they wouldn’t form. Will remember this. I had ten in to hatch nine are out with the last one working on it now so i am happy with that. Thanks

 

[geina]

Hiding eggs doesn't necessarily mean she's wanting to set, it just means she found a place that she likes better than the nest boxes you gave her. You have a couple of options. You could try setting those in an incubator, but I wouldn't, not knowing how old they are. Or, you could mark a few and leave them there, so they keep laying in that spot. Collect the unmarked eggs daily, and when you feel you have as many as you want, put them in the incubator. You could wait for your hen to go broody, but she may not. I don't know how long you've had her, or if she's ever been broody, so I wouldn't count on that. If you want chicks hatched on your schedule, put them in the incubator.

Thanks any tips on how if possible to get her to want to set? Guessing once one starts I’ll have others to follow. Lol that’s the way it goes I guess.

 

[geina]

I would be putting them in the bator, I get my best hatches from older eggs. 3 week old eggs I get near 100% hatch from.
Maybe candle them to see the size of the air sack,,
How long have the girls been hiding them?
What have the temps been (or could they have been frozen)?

Only been hiding them about ten to twelve days. Not to long

 

[RWise]

I leave fake eggs in a nest, increase by 1 to 3 each day depending on how many hens use it. My fake eggs are golf balls, the nest I do this in is in a private pad with the door open. Once a girl sets on it, I take the golf balls after dark and give her the real deal, close the door/gate to the area. Does not always work so I use a incubator.
As many eggs as are shown in the pic, I would think one of the girls will be about ready, you just never know.

 

[bobbi-j]

Thanks any tips on how if possible to get her to want to set? Guessing once one starts I’ll have others to follow. Lol that’s the way it goes I guess.

Broodiness is hormone-driven. If you want to hatch on your own schedule, you need an incubator.