How To Mark Broody Hens Eggs?

[newchickens2009]

Ok I have a broody hen which is in a coop with other hens. I've decieded to let her sit and hatch them but I have a small problem. Everyday the other 3 hens move her out of the nest she is sitting in and lays their eggs in it. She quickly returns when they are done but then I am not sure which eggs are fresh and which she as been sitting on. I've tried to mark them with a pencil but by the next day the pencil mark is gone (I guess because of the moisture?) Can I mark them with a marker or will it kill the embro inside? Also with they still hatch with the others disturbing her everyday or should I just give up since I have nowhere else to put her?

 

[bearz]

I use washable crayola markers. I make a circle all the way around the egg with a bright color so that no matter how they are laying I can tell its a setter.

 

[elmo]

You might want to go ahead and isolate her someplace to brood where the other hens can't bother her. If you don't, she might get scared off the nest long enough for the eggs to chill, or the other hens might jostle and break the incubating eggs while they're in the box doing their own thing.

 

[chicks4kids]

I just use a pencil and make a continous line all around the center of the egg...

 

[Dipsy Doodle Doo]

Hi! A Sharpie Permanent Marker is safe to mark the eggs and will not rub off.
Good luck with your eggs!

Lisa

 

[chuckschickens]

Thank you already because that is a question I needed to ask. I have another question for you guys. If you separate the broody hen to set on her eggs, when do you return her to the coop with the rest of the chickens? Can you introduce the new chicks to the rest of the coop or will the other chickens pick on them?

 

[newchickens2009]

Thank you all so much for the info. It is really appreciated!

Chucks Chickens,
I would leave them with there mother until they are fully feathered and do not need her for keeping them warm anymore. Then return her to the flock. As far as putting them all together, I do not recomend it because the other chickens will probaly kill them. Wait until they are of the same size then you can put all together.

 

[elmo]

Quote:
Some people let the hen and her chicks rejoin the flock after a few days or so, sort of how it would work in nature. The mother hen usually has the instinct to protect her chicks from the other hens, but sometimes not, and attacks can occur if you do this. If the mother hen is one of the higher ranking hens, this approach can work pretty well. It all depends on the personalities of your chickens.

I have one hen with chicks separated now not because of what the other hens would do to her chicks, but because of what the mother hen would do to the other hens. She's very fierce in her protectiveness.

 

[chuckschickens]

Wow! Thank you much. This info makes an old saying I haven't heard or thought of in years make sense..."mean as a momma hen!"

 

[henney penny]

Question,I have two broody silkies that are laying side by side on the floor of the coop,its a silkie coop and I have two more hens in there and the rooster.One of them raised chicks last fall with the rooster and a hen and all went well(he is the best rooster)my question is can everything stay as it is or should I move the broodys?I have very limited space to put them somewhere else.