First time egg hatching

[graeber]

Well, we've come a long way. We have dealt with unruly dogs, smelly coop, breed confusion and too many roosters. Y'all have been great in helping us through it all. Thank you! We have decided to try and hatch some eggs. I cannot begin to tell you how excited this makes our kids. We have three buff orpingtons and two americaunas. All of which get very vocal and peck at you when you collect their eggs. I figured they are broody? We left two days of eggs for them to sit on. They sit on them during the day, but at night they perch. Is this normal? I live in Texas so nights aren't cold, gets down to around 80 degrees. Any suggestions or insights would be greatly appreciated.

 

[nchls school]

Well, we've come a long way. We have dealt with unruly dogs, smelly coop, breed confusion and too many roosters. Y'all have been great in helping us through it all. Thank you! We have decided to try and hatch some eggs. I cannot begin to tell you how excited this makes our kids. We have three buff orpingtons and two americaunas. All of which get very vocal and peck at you when you collect their eggs. I figured they are broody? We left two days of eggs for them to sit on. They sit on them during the day, but at night they perch. Is this normal? I live in Texas so nights aren't cold, gets down to around 80 degrees. Any suggestions or insights would be greatly appreciated.

When hens are serious about brooding they set 24 hours a day with sort breaks for food, water, etc. Your hens may be beginning to become broody but are not there yet. Hopefully soon. Good luck.

 

[graeber]

The eggs have been in the nest for two days now. The hens seem to be taking turns sitting on them during the day but the past two nights when I checked on them they were perched and the eggs were not being sat on. Will they hatch this way? Again it does not get cold here. Is there anything I can do to encourage them to sit more consistently?

 

[nchls school]

No. The eggs will not hatch unless they are being brooded day and night. Replace the eggs with dummy eggs (white plastic Easter eggs, light bulbs, golf balls, anything egg shaped and light colored). Leaving the eggs will probably result in their being broken or ruined. When I want hens to brood I replace fresh eggs each day with dummy eggs. When a hen is brooding day and night for two days give her the freshest eggs you can to brood and hatch. When a hen broods it is best to make sure other hens do not disturb the nest; and they will if that is the nest where they have been laying eggs.