Foolish broody - but it's really my fault...

[Engteacher]

I have a first time broody who has been sitting on two eggs for 17 days. Today, I found her sitting in the wrong nest box and her eggs were completely cold. It's my fault. I should have moved her into isolation, but I have another girl in the dog box who should be hatching on Thursday. I just hadn't gotten around to getting another pen for this one.

Anyway, should I toss these two cold eggs or tuck them back under her and cross my fingers? I mean, what's the worst that could happen?

 

[Judy]

I'd certainly put them back under her. Some broodies stay off their clutch a lot longer than others, and chick development is designed to tolerate a certain amount of temperature fluctuation. They're not dead yet, I hope!

I've been having similar problems with a young broody, and recently a second broody decided she wanted that nest box. In the ensuing confusion, the eggs got cold a couple of times. None have started stinking yet. Actually, #2 pecked one to death -- the embryo looked healthy. So don't give up yet.

 

[Engteacher]

Quote:
That was my first instinct, too, but I'm in Minnesota. The outside temp is in the mid-twenties and the coop temp is probably in the mid-forties. I'll wait and watch. Cross your fingers!

 

[Happy Chooks]

Yes, put them back under her. There was someone here who's broody flew over the fence and was off the eggs for 8 or so hours. She still had some hatch.