Hen separating 2 eggs from the rest of the clutch

[tridana]

So my Spanish Black Hen is doing great laying her first clutch of eggs. I going natural with no incubator; I don't NEED turkey babies, but want to see if she will do the whole process. I understand I may get nothing.

So here is the question. She has laid 12 eggs so far but has recently separated 2 of the eggs from the rest of the clutch. Any ideas why? Should I push them back to the rest of the clutch?

thanks

Dana

 

[markb816]

hmm.. she separated two? Interesting... Wait till she takes a potty break or food break, and if all possible, stealthy slip the eggs back in. try to refrain from her seeing you messing with the eggs. it could be stressful to the hen to see someone infiltraiting her nest.
Once you placed back in the nest. See what she does. If she moves the same two eggs out of the nest again, don't repeat. The next break oppurtunity you have, you may want to take those same two eggs and put in an incubator. Because at that point you will know she is not really interested in those two.

 

[kuntrygirl]

From what I have heard and I don't know how true it is, she may think/know that something is wrong with those 2 (not fertile perhaps?).

 

[markb816]

true Opelousas, a mother's instinct, as we know can be very accurate. However, this may or may not be the case. Either way I would suggest not getting too emotionaly attached to these two eggs. If you put them in incubator and nothing happens, you'll know Mother Hen was right. And in alot of circumstances with life, and in life, we know momma is usually right.

 

[kuntrygirl]

true Opelousas, a mother's instinct, as we know can be very accurate. However, this may or may not be the case. Either way I would suggest not getting too emotionaly attached to these two eggs. If you put them in incubator and nothing happens, you'll know Mother Hen was right. And in alot of circumstances with life, and in life, we know momma is usually right.

 

You are right. I agree.

 

[daniel rainey]

if you dont need the chicks i would say just leave it, dont risk messing with her nest because she may notice and not be best pleased.

 

[kuntrygirl]

if you dont need the chicks i would say just leave it, dont risk messing with her nest because she may notice and not be best pleased.

Yes, you are right.

And if indeed those eggs are bad and you (tridana) try putting them back under her and those eggs that she kicked out happen to explode during the incubating process, it could mess up all of the good eggs.

 

[markb816]

that does make sense

 

[tridana]

Thanks for all the advice! She is not sitting yet, so I did decide to slip them onto the edge of the others using some straw. We'll see!