For those of you experienced with broodies hatching...Update :)

[mothersin2ition]

Ive only had one other hen, a banty, hatch a clutch of eggs, and she did it like she was a pro. Got up off the nest to poop, never once went in the nest. Almost all hatched.
This year, I have another banty sitting on 5 eggs. She constantly poops in the nest, and it covers them!!! I also frequently find her with eggs pushed out from under her- at this point I will be totally amazed if any of them survive. The chicks are due to hatch on tuesday/wednestday of this coming week (7/21-22).
Has anyone had an experience with this? Did any of the chicks hatch? Should I just not let her set ever again?

 

[eggsrcool]

My silkie has trouble covering 8 eggs (she is large fowl). Make sure the hen's feet are clean. Everyday, you might want to lift her off her eggs to allow her to go outside and eat, drink and poop. If this is her first time sitting, then she will be inexperienced and won't know what to do as well as other hens. Let her sit again another time, but keep us updated! Hope this helps!

 

[Lollipop]

I agree with eggsrcool on most things. However, I wouldn`t bother lifting her off the nest. Inexperience is most likely the problem, but next time she`s broody, start her out with some eggs you don`t care about. Two or 3 will do. After about 3 days you will know if this disgusting habit will continue or not. If not, you can replace the dummy eggs with a clutch you want hatched. Do the swap at night and let her do her thing. Good luck......Pop

 

[wendid1]

We have a chicken that just went broody for the first time. she had about ten eggs under her before we knew what was going on.I removed 3 of them and they were cover in poop. Does the poop hurt the developing chick?

 

[Lollipop]

Quote:
Although clean eggs are prefered, dirty eggs usually have the same hatchability.....Pop

 

[wendid1]

Quote:
Although clean eggs are prefered, dirty eggs usually have the same hatchability.....Pop

Thanks pop.

 

[mothersin2ition]

Thanks a ton for the replies. I guess we will know in a few days if any of them are going to hatch. My biggest concern is that I keep finding her with a few eggs pushed out from underneath her. I can't imagine that they would have survived that, though I didnt remove them. At this point, Im just letting whatever happens, happen.
I will update when/if anything happens this week!

 

[mothersin2ition]

Just wanted to say that when I checked on mama just now, there were 2 brand new babies in there with her!! After looking at the other eggs, I found one that has pipped, and so far nothing with the 3 others left. Also, there was a broken egg in there, that had apparently never developed at all. So there are 3 eggs left that I'm keeping an eye on. I guess after all that, its pretty good odds to get even 3 that developed!

 

[WriterofWords]

Congrats on the babies!