How did she know?

[tazcat70]

I put eggs under a broody hen. I pulled them out of the incubator on day 18 and stuck them under her. She has not moved once since then. How did she know that they were on day 18 and that they should not be turned?

 

[countyroad1330]

Ha! That is cute! They're just smart like that I guess.

What kind of hen? And what is she hatching for you?

 

[tazcat70]

She is a Black bantam. I think a Dutch. She is sitting on 5 blue EE.

 

[shelleyd2008]

She could possibly hear the chicks either peeping or tapping the shell.

 

[swtangel321]

Funny how they know things like that, Kind of like how some hens know if an egg is bad !!!! Smart little dummies !!!!

 

[dixiechick]

no kidding....I took eggs from two different girls one evening and layed them in the grass while I re-watered everyone....one of my girls got out of her next, went over to her egg, and was rolling it back to her nest. (Talk about GUILT!!!!) Smart bird!!

 

[swtangel321]

Quote:
LOL !!!!!!! They are so cute when the "fight" for there eggs !!!!! Did you end up giving it back to her ???

 

[dixiechick]

Sadly, NOOOO, I didn't...but nearly cried all the way to the house....it was a good lesson for me....now, I rob and run with the eggs..... it's a ridiculous, sad story of how my hen outsmarted me!!

 

[countyroad1330]

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[tazcat70]

Yuppers! Well she has 4 little babies for her efforts! I just love her! I picked her up at my first auction for $1.25 and brought her home. I named her Sunshine because she would always greet me like a ray of sunlight.

Last time she sat on eggs for the entire time and then about 3 days before they were due to hatch another chicken started sharing the nest with her, so when the chicks hatched they shared the babies. Silly chickens!