How to remove hen for candling

[busylizzie]

I am going to try candling my 6 day hatchers out this evening.....but I am not sure how to go about getting hen off eggs without stressing her out too much.....tips and ideas anyone? I was going to try and catch when she gets off her the nest but keep missing it!

 

[Mrs MIA]

I just go in, pet her a little bit, then gently lift her up and set her away from the eggs. Usually I take her outside to do her "business".

Then put her back on after she's done.

 

[busylizzie]

Thanks for the tip

I am going to take the eggs inside the house for candling....do they not mind that?

 

[Dar]

just reach under her and take the eggs she wont care or pick her and move her she will go right back to the eggs when you are done

I tried not to have mt hen off the eggs for to long but I had the out for about 20 min while I candled all of them with no problems

 

[busylizzie]

thanks.....think i might have to use gloves to remove her as she is very grumpy at the moment

 

[Sunny Side Up]

You may not *have to* candle the eggs, especially if you have a fussy broody hen. I've candled eggs under broodies and dropped or cracked them while handling them, especially if I'm tending with an upset hen at the same time. Now I just leave everyone alone until it's time for them to leave the nest after hatching, it's less risky.

 

[Cuban Longtails]

Quote:

The hens know what they're doing.

I just let'em do it.

 

[Dar]

Quote:
I used the oven mitts... lol..my broody hen was a silkie in the house though not in the yard

 

[tofuranch]

I would just leave the eggs..if they are bad the hen will put them out of the nest...I haven't ever candled eggs that were under a broody

 

[busylizzie]

Oh......thanks for the messages! Since my last post I did go and candle the eggs - oppss.....next time I will leave them under the hen

However, out of 11 eggs (i knew 1 or 2 were not fertile as my hens - no cockrel - snuck theirs in!) 4 are definates, 3 are probables, 2 are might bes and 2 are definately nots. So.....I put 3 of the definates in the mini incubator for my kids to watch (it has a special candling devise which means you don't have to touch the eggs!) and I put the other 6 back under the hen.

Hope that was the right thing to do.....hope to have success with both hen and bator.