Got my first Egg yesterday

[marie_martin]

My BB Red OEGB layed her first egg yesterday. Boy they are small. I never saw her sit on it at all even last night after dark. Is that unusual? I figured she would not sit on it at all so I took it, then I read online that some wont sit until they get several. Too late to put it back. So for next time, is that true? Should I just leave them in there? Should I date them so that I know how long they have been there? I took a photo of it beside a regular store bought egg and it is amazing the difference, but still big to have come from such a small hen. I gave her some egg shell yesterday from a friend who has hens. I read on here somewhere about someone who bakes the shells and figured it was to keep from spreading disease so I did that, on 200 degrees and just sort of dried them out good then fed some to her. She loved them. I have only had them a few days, so I am very excited. I am going to get another hen to go in there with her and the roo. Would it hurt to have a different breed? Thanks.

Marie

 

[TheBigWRanch]

My Bantam just started laying on her eggs, and she has ten of them. I just leave them out there, you can still put the other egg back if you want. Write down the day that your hen starts laying on the eggs full time, that way you'll know when they are going to hatch. Anytime you introduce your chickens to a new chicken there is going to be a lot of "arguing" until they decide who's the boss. I'm more of a tuff love type of person, and leave them in there to work it out on their own. It seems like some people watch them and say "Oh my gosh! They are picking on the new one." So they immediately separate them. It may take awhile for things to settle down, so just wait it out.

 

[marie_martin]

I can't put it back, I have it in the fridge. I don't think she will want a cold chicken!!! I will just leave them from now on. Should I put a mark on it so I know when to take it out if she has not hatched it. I mean wouldn't it rot if it does not form or whatever? thanks.

Marie

 

[bigzio]

marie, Unless your hen is broody she won't sit on the eggs, Leaving extra eggs in the nest won't make her become broody either, it is a natural instiinct that happens naturally. If your hen becomes broody you will know it. Collect the eggs daily and enjoy them until she goes broody, right now she is laying not sitting.

bigzio

 

[marie_martin]

So no matter how many eggs she lays she may never sit on them? I hope she does eventually. If I get an incubator, what would be the steps to getting it from the nest to the bator and having it hatch. Are there certain precautions to take when handling the egg? These are banty chickens, are they usually more or less broody? They are BB Red OEGB's and the eggs are tiny so if we don't get to eat them, it will be ok. I was hoping she would hatch some at least so my kids could have some baby chicks. (Of course it is not just for my kids, ha ha).

Thanks for the info.

Marie

 

[TheBigWRanch]

So far my OEGBs haven't had a problem going broody, I just leave the eggs out, and after 1 to 2 weeks they start laying on them. I also have a problem that when I don't want them to go broody, I collect the eggs everyday, but they will still go broody and just sit on nothing for 3 weeks.

If you do want to collect the eggs, then save them so you can put them back under her, because when she does go broody, she will stop laying. After she has sat on them for ten or more days, you can candle the eggs and throw away the clear ones. That way they won't break and make a big mess.

 

[marie_martin]

Thanks. That helps a lot. I will leave the next one and see what happens. I can't imagine how small a chick will be considering how small the egg is. Once it hatches, how will it get down from the nest? Will it be able to fly right away? I did put a small ledge in front, but I imagine it could stumble up there and fall out? Thaks for your help. I must sound like a big dummy.

Marie

 

[TheBigWRanch]

Chicks can't fly right away. I would have her hatch them in a nest on the ground.