Juune Hatch-A-Long

[Wishapup]

Unfortunately, today - Day 11 - one hen broke open an egg while the broody was drinking off the nest. It was developing. I will have to move her sooner than I had hoped. Never seen this other hen eating eggs but she obviously thought it would be like a freshly laid one.

3 eggs left.

 

[Angiebubs]

Ugh! I am just getting ready to put the 31 eggs out under my 5-7 broody hens and worried about similar issues. IF a laying hen sees a nest full of eggs that the broody hen is, depending on where she is in the pecking order, shes apt to chase the broody hen off. I just added a couple more nest boxes and think I will put golf balls into the ones I want the laying hens to use.

Can you see movement or formation in the 3 remaining eggs?

 

[Wishapup]

Ugh! I am just getting ready to put the 31 eggs out under my 5-7 broody hens and worried about similar issues. IF a laying hen sees a nest full of eggs that the broody hen is, depending on where she is in the pecking order, shes apt to chase the broody hen off. I just added a couple more nest boxes and think I will put golf balls into the ones I want the laying hens to use.

Can you see movement or formation in the 3 remaining eggs?

No, I candled all 4 at least twice in the last week and couldn't see anything (thick-shelled, green eggs from my EE). I thought...maybe none are developing. Now that one is cracked, it's obvious that it was

But it gives me confidence for the other three, laid by the same hen.

I incubated two of these in May and had the same thing - thought neither were alive but both hatched.

 

[Angiebubs]

No, I candled all 4 at least twice in the last week and couldn't see anything (thick-shelled, green eggs from my EE). I thought...maybe none are developing. Now that one is cracked, it's obvious that it was

But it gives me confidence for the other three, laid by the same hen.

I incubated two of these in May and had the same thing - thought neither were alive but both hatched.

Well that's exciting at least they are fertile!!! I must have moved the location of the new nestboxes 3-4 times today. Finally went ahead and set them up in a separate brooder area (Its ideal for this but due to moisture issues I was hesitant to use this spot). I have 4 nestboxes and broodys in there with 28 eggs...2 proven hens have 9 each, then they others have 5 each. Then there are 3 broody bantys left in the main coop. Two of which have been broody for awhile so wasn't sure if they were going to break their broodiness or not. Gave 1-2 eggs the other 1 egg and one a golf ball LOL I can move some of these around as I go along. Whew! I promised myself I would not get stressed with this and would stay hands off and let whatever happened, just happen HAH!

 

[dannyisforreal]

Im always got chicks hatching lol! But right now i got a broody thats on day 4!!!

 

[Angiebubs]

Danny: Nice! Welcome to the June Hatchalong!!!

So do any of you weight your eggs throughout the incubation? If so, at what days? I weighed mine before putting them under the broodys. I am thinking of weighing at day 8 and maybe day 16?

Also is it really obvious if one is bad/died?

 

[Wishapup]

Danny: Nice! Welcome to the June Hatchalong!!!

So do any of you weight your eggs throughout the incubation? If so, at what days? I weighed mine before putting them under the broodys. I am thinking of weighing at day 8 and maybe day 16?

Also is it really obvious if one is bad/died?

No, I don't weigh, though some people keep very on track with that. I have pretty constant temps and humidity troughs generally work for me. With these variables doing well, I don't find weighing necessary - what develops hatches. I like to candle, but the eggs' development is up to the broody hen and my incubator.

This has given me good hatches. But if you want to know about the eggs' weight loss development as well as candling, it's up to you!

Obvious if one is bad - sometimes yes, usually in my case I've found no. If it's a real bad egg and it's rotting, you might see droplets or "weeping" - take it out quick before it explodes! Never had that happen though.

In candling, a blood ring signifies an early death. Others (all but 1 out of 21 for me in my last hatch), you won't really know until after hatch day...

 

[Wishapup]

Oops, double post

 

[ChickyChickens]

I have another broody hen! YAY!!
I went to put the goats and sheep out in their camp this morning when all of a sudden I heard this huge growling noise! I noticed that it was one of my hens that decided she wanted to go broody in the goats hay!!!
Anyway I am soooo excited!!
She has got 21 eggs!!!!!

 

[Angiebubs]

ChickyChic! Congrats! 21 eggs? OMG LOL I was worried with putting 9 eggs under my two proven hens so glad to hear that they will naturally try to hatch that many. Any idea how long shes been sitting on them?