Faux Broody????

[MuskokaChick]

I am still trying to figure out this thing called broodiness!

So my 2 silky hens...one has been sitting on the nest 8 Days straight now and I marked her eggs. The other hen sits on her eggs (also marked) but she gets up about once/day and goes outside for a stretch and then back on the nest...I am also finding new eggs and taking them. No new egg yet today.

If she is still laying then she is not broody right?

Hen 1 is sitting on 8 eggs and like I said about Day 8
Hen 2 is sitting on 5 eggs and when can I assume Day 1? When she stops laying?

tia

 

[hinkjc]

Some hens will continue to lay as she starts to go broody. She will shut off at some point. If she doesn't, then she may not truly be broody. Does she stay on the eggs at night for bed? If so, then they should be fine under her. The only thing is if she is adding new eggs daily, chicks will hatch over many days. This is typically not a good idea, so probably best to remove any fresh eggs and let her do her thing with the existing nest.

 

[MuskokaChick]

ok good, I have been taking her fresh eggs away for the last 3 days. nothing new yet today.

 

[FeatheredObsessions]

Is there a chance she is stealing another birds eggs?

I would count day 1 from the first day she sat on the eggs. She is "allowed" to get up and stretch. Some girls wont but others do and hatch successfully.

 

[MuskokaChick]

I have marked each of their eggs...so no stealing yet.

No new eggs today, ok, well so I am a week in with one and a few days in with the other.

I am thinking of trying to candle tonight...but won't make any decision on the eggs till day 14.

Thanks!

 

[FeatheredObsessions]

Good Luck!

 

[MuskokaChick]

Thanks

I just have the 2 hens and the rooster in the silky pen (within my coop)

so hopefully it all works out when/if chicks arrive...everyone gets along *sigh*

I also have 4 eggs in the incubator due to hatch in a week...I just candled them Day 14..and too dark to see anything but the air sac *shrug*

hope they are all still alive

 

[FeatheredObsessions]

Well too dark is better than too clear

 

[MuskokaChick]

yes, dark is better than clear

I just went in and the hens were on the other's nest ???? anyway I checked for new eggs and got another new one...collected it.

So I guess they are going to co-parents?