Live and Learn..

[ehargett]

I am kinda bummed right now.
I have six hens and a rooster...all Barred Rocks..and saw one of my girls getting broody...

So, I decided to let her set. Well, I have never done this before, but I figured I'd mark all the eggs she was setting and then check back in 21 days...

Ok, my husband and I did do some candling half way to cull out any non developers which left us with about 8 eggs for her to brood.

It's been a little over 21 days now, and I went out to check on her, and decided to throw away the oldest eggs. Well, the one egg I chucked broke open to reveal a half-developed chick.

I was so mad at myself, and put the other one back under the mama.

My question is, if the egg I chucked was (by my calculation) over 21 days old, but only had a half developed chick in it, how am I supposed to keep track now?

I guess I'll live and learn, but this was disappointing since I thought when I marked the eggs I had created a way to monitor the hatching.

Suggestions?
Elizabeth

 

[KansasBoy]

Well it could be cause by cold weather (depending on where you're at)... They will develop slower at a lower incubation temp... So I would assume if mama isn't able to get reach those temps with her body heat at the moment then it would likely be the culprit! Have you monitored the temp out in the coop?

 

[alicefelldown]

Is your broody seperated from the other hens?

Your five other girls might be laying in her nest when she gets up to eat and poop - which will throw off your dating system.

Cold temps make for a day or two difference. Not a 10 day potential difference.

 

[ehargett]

No, haven't been monitoring the temp...although I will say I am in NC, and the weather has been fickle to say the least. Really cold, then warm, then hot, the cold again.
Today it is 53 with a high of 68 expected.... early in the week in was well into the 70s..

I actually need to get going on making a new coop.

since we are adding to the flock. Right now they are in a little chicken tractor at night and let out during the day. However, I've been having to hunt for eggs since Miss Broods-A-Lot has taken over the nesting box!

Thanks for the info on the temps.. that helps.

Elizabeth