Ok, my first year with broody hens and it seems as if every female in the place wants to set eggs. I had a black maran set and hatch 6 eggs out of 13 a month ago. The six chicks are doing great. there were no problems with the maran's hatch, it was all "textbook". But now, I have 4 other hens setting including 2 LF cochins. One, "Nellie", has been setting and is due any time now, but her eggs looked strange when I candled them. Most had a large, dark area that slides around when the egg is moved. Is this a "bad egg" ? She's already had two break and that wasn't fun. I am also not seeing "chick movement' in the dark area. I know when a chick is about to hatch the dark area fills most of the egg and all you can see is the air pocket. there are 2 of those in Nellie's nest and a few in other hens' clutches, too. I need to know if the slider eggs are bad so I can possibly keep her broody and hatch out some Russian Orloff eggs I have. But, I don't want to toss any chicks that there may be. Help! Any advice would be helpful.
