It's me again....

[ruby2zdaze]

Our broody barred cochin NEEDED to be a mom, so we jumped on down to Trader Joes to get her some fertile eggs.
She has been sitting on them for about a week now and I have a few questions as a newbie.

1) We have been candling them every night and see no change. When should we start raising our eyebrow that maybe these eggs are duds?
2) If the eggs are duds, will she know this and discard them or continue to sit on them FOREVER? lol
3) Whilst candling, we could see cracks in one egg. We placed it back for now and it hasn't broken, but I assume we throw it out. Am I incorrect? Thanks in advance everyone.

The egg pictures were taken at day 3, but I assume they have some days on them from fertilization time to fridge no?

 

[10 acre woods]

You should get rid of the cracked egg. There is no need to candle everyday. I wait until day 7 before I candle for the first time. Even then it is usually just a small spot and some veining. Give them some more time. If they still look like they do in the photos by day seven or ten. Then they are duds. The hen will usually keep on sitting on them, even if they are infertile. So it is best for you to dicard them. An exploded egg makes a smelly mess wherever they happen.

 

[ruby2zdaze]

I hear that! Will discard it when I get home.
Can I put some more eggs under her if the others seem to be duds? Just wondering how long she will stay broody. We actually have 2 babu chicks coming at the end of May

 

[10 acre woods]

Yes, you can put more eggs under her. I have had hens sit almost all summer. I would think that I would have them broke up and they would go right back to being broody.They come off the nest to stretch, eat and go to the bathroom and go back to their nest.

 

[Three chickens]

Keep us posted on your trader joe eggs.

 

[ruby2zdaze]

I placed the eggs under her on 3/30 around 5pm and they look the same as the pictures above. I actually sneaked another one in 2 nights later. LOL
So far, they all look the same, so I will keep you posted.
FINGERS CROSSED!

 

[mymilliefleur]

I placed the eggs under her on 3/30 around 5pm and they look the same as the pictures above. I actually sneaked another one in 2 nights later. LOL
So far, they all look the same, so I will keep you posted.
FINGERS CROSSED!

If the eggs are still clear after a week and a half, then they are duds. Maybe you could find someone locally with some fresh fertile eggs for sale, and put those under her?

 

[ruby2zdaze]

We are on day 11 now.