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jjs26

jjs26

Hatching
Aug 29, 2015
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Hello I am a new member an new to raising chickens. I bought 5 pallets in march an one turned out to be a rooster. One of my hens just started laying on Aug 7th and she was staying in her nest laying on the eggs so I didn't want to take her first eggs the rest don't seem to be laying why is that? Also one hen would sit on the nest while the broody hen would be out then stopped. About a week later I would find my broody hen out all day with the rest with small amounts of time where I would find her on the nest she even feathered her nest. Two days ago my mother's friend told her to take all the eggs from the nest an put them in the fridge for eating which I was so mad about. So the nest has two eggs in it one from yesterday an one for today an hasn't layer on them at all. I was getting at least two eggs a day. So because all the clutch is gone will the broody hen start laying right away? Since my mom took her eggs will she stop being broody? And why are the others not laying???
 
Welcome to BYC! I think your mom did the right thing,it doent sound like your hen was full broody,she should continue to lay.be patient with the others,they will start laying when there ready, some just start sooner.good luck
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So those eggs are good to eat??? And how long can eggs stay out in the nest in the heat before they go bad? On hot days she left the nest almost all day but then on colder days she was on them so if she's not on the 24/7 she can't hatch them? Also I read somewhere you can put eggs in the fridge that are less then 7 days old before you set them? And when I candled the earlier eggs I could see a dark spot the light didn't shine through an also an air pocket so if there was something they r dead now but if they would have went in the incubator instead of the fridge would it of hatched? How long can the egg go without heat?
 
jjs26 said:
Hello I am a new member an new to raising chickens. I bought 5 pallets in march an one turned out to be a rooster. One of my hens just started laying on Aug 7th and she was staying in her nest laying on the eggs so I didn't want to take her first eggs the rest don't seem to be laying why is that? Also one hen would sit on the nest while the broody hen would be out then stopped. About a week later I would find my broody hen out all day with the rest with small amounts of time where I would find her on the nest she even feathered her nest. Two days ago my mother's friend told her to take all the eggs from the nest an put them in the fridge for eating which I was so mad about. So the nest has two eggs in it one from yesterday an one for today an hasn't layer on them at all. I was getting at least two eggs a day. So because all the clutch is gone will the broody hen start laying right away? Since my mom took her eggs will she stop being broody? And why are the others not laying???
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From what I am reading you have one rooster and four hens. One is broody and broody hens do not lay eggs. Two eggs a day means at least two hens are laying and that leaves one hen not laying-maybe. Hens mature at different rates and do not start laying at the same time. When laying first starts the hens will not lay every day. Depending on the breed they may never lay every day. So it is possible all four pullet are laying and if not, be patient; all will lay when they are ready. Warn your mother that the eggs she took from the broody hen may be partially developed and are not suitable for eating. If the hen wasn't brooding right those eggs might even be rotten. The hen may keep brooding on other eggs or even on an empty nest. If the broody hen was off the nest more than she was on she may not really be brooding or just poor at it or not mature enough. I would not give her more eggs to brood. A good broody hen gets off the nest for short periods of time and then returns to her nest.
 
jjs26 said:
So those eggs are good to eat??? And how long can eggs stay out in the nest in the heat before they go bad? On hot days she left the nest almost all day but then on colder days she was on them so if she's not on the 24/7 she can't hatch them? Also I read somewhere you can put eggs in the fridge that are less then 7 days old before you set them? And when I candled the earlier eggs I could see a dark spot the light didn't shine through an also an air pocket so if there was something they r dead now but if they would have went in the incubator instead of the fridge would it of hatched? How long can the egg go without heat?
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Hi! Welcome!
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If you're asking about eating the likely fertilized eggs from Aug7-now that may have incubated to some degree, I'd starve before cracking one open in a frying pan, especially if you candled them. Are you looking for eggs to eat or eggs to hatch? Eating eggs should be removed fairly immediately if you have a broody. If you are looking to hatch, there are great threads on hatching and incubating.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/f/5/incubating-hatching-eggs
 
Throw those eggs away. Even if they have not partially developed they have been sitting outside in the heat for 2-3 wks n will likely make u sick. Would u buy a carton of eggs from the store,leave it sit outside for 2wks n then eat them?
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Some serious broodies will NOT even leave the nest to eat/drink/poo. They can starve to death if you don't put them out 2-3 times a day and make sure they take care of their needs. Your broody hen wasn't totally committed to hatching. She may be too young, or not have strong enough hormones to nudge her into doing it fully.
 

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