Is this common with hens?

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Congratulations, good thing you waited, hope you get a bunch more

 

[PattiS72]

Congratulations, good thing you waited, hope you get a bunch more

Thanks! She had a total of 10 eggs (not all hers), laid at different times. But don't know if they are fertile.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Some goofy things I do are hold the eggs up to my ear to see if I can hear peeping, they peep a day or so before hatching, I will smell the egg if it's rotten you can smell it, and I will gently move it back and forth, if it no good you will feel a slight clunking as stuff moves back and forth, if no more hatch in 2-3 days she will leave the nest to take care of any chicks

 

[PattiS72]

Some goofy things I do are hold the eggs up to my ear to see if I can hear peeping, they peep a day or so before hatching, I will smell the egg if it's rotten you can smell it, and I will gently move it back and forth, if it no good you will feel a slight clunking as stuff moves back and forth, if no more hatch in 2-3 days she will leave the nest to take care of any chicks

I would try but momma doesn't get off the nest too often and I hate to make her move (like I did when I found the first chick.)

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

She'll be a good mama then, I guess sometimes we have to just let things happen as they're gonna happen, chickens as such fun, and nerve racking, because we all want to control things and chickens have their own way and don't want our help, you should know in a few days, good luck

 

[PattiS72]

Have another one hatching when I went to feed.

 

[Mrs. K]

I only got 3 out of 13 to hatch under my first hen, but I have another one, due to hatch on the 28 with nine under her.

It is always so exciting, don't feel bad for the ones that didn't, just be happy for the ones that did. A smaller clutch might be better for your first time.

The ones that hatched a couple of weeks ago are developing thier feathers, and the wings are a nice brown barring.

Mrs K

 

[PattiS72]

Well only two. But Mama has moved to the floor and left the other 8 eggs in the nest. Should I assume she's done with them and toss them? Maybe I'll candle them to see if they are good first before I toss? I just candled the remaining 8, 6 looked like they were developing so I started up the incubator for them.

 

[PattiS72]

Here are the chicks!

 

[junebuggena]

Give it a couple of days before you toss the eggs.