So I've got a real broody hen, and 3 eggs in the bator that are 23 days old. I float-tested them and they're rockin and rollin, bout to hatch at any second! I really want this hen to experience the hatch, and she's been layin on eggs in my backroom coop for a couple days now by herself and is really into brooding. Would it be a bad idea to put those 3 eggs under her and let them hatch naturally? Need advice quick before they pip! Thx
i don't see any reason not to give the hen the eggs! as long as she is dedicated to them the last couple days! i guess i have never heard of 'float' testing the eggs. could you explain?
Ok cool, I'm glad you gave me a little backing mama, I really want to! There's a great thread on Float-testing somewhere on BYC. When eggs are past the 21 day mark and haven't hatched, you can set them in a container of water(100 degrees) and tell if there viable eggs, never developed, or died earlier in development. If the egg is floating with about 15% of the egg out of the water then its a viable egg. If it sinks, never developed. If it floats high(45% or more) died earlier on.
