help

[frizzylizzy2003]

hi byc! i have 2 austra white hens sitting on aracauna eggs and they sit in the nesting box together - my question is will they no who's chick is who's?

also should i candle them they've been sitting on them for about 2 weeks they hatch on the 23rd December

 

[sumi]

If the hens get along they will most likely co-parent and raise the chicks together. You can candle the eggs now and check which are viable. You should be able to see quite a bit if they are 2 weeks along. Here are some candling pics you can refer to for comparison:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...dling-pics-progression-though-incubation/0_30

 

[frizzylizzy2003]

thx for answering so quickly

 

[frizzylizzy2003]

Originally Posted by sumi

if i move the hen off her eggs to candle them will she go back to them???

 

[sumi]

I take the eggs out from under the hen and candle them quickly in front of her, replacing them one by one as I'm done with them. (Take an egg carton with to put them pre-candle and so you have something to put the discarded ones in) It's less stressful for the hen if you do it that way and I find it easier to do it in the evening, when it's dark in the coop and the hen's sleepy and less likely to fly off the nest.