Moving unhatched eggs from under a broody hen to an incubator

[roxannet]

I have a broody hen sitting on 4 eggs at the moment. Today is day 3.

I was wondering if new eggs could be added to the broody hen with the newer unhatched eggs being placed into an homemade incubator for the last 3 days when the broody hen will leave the nest...

Granted, not the best idea but just wondering if anyone had given this a try.

 

[Sally Sunshine]

I have a broody hen sitting on 4 eggs at the moment. Today is day 3.

I was wondering if new eggs could be added to the broody hen with the newer unhatched eggs being placed into an homemade incubator for the last 3 days when the broody hen will leave the nest...

Granted, not the best idea but just wondering if anyone had given this a try.

I have a hen who keeps laying and the broody is stealing them, I finally marked the eggs and I will pull the others when the rest hatch and put them in the incubator, I think sumi on here said its best to keep taking the new eggs they add but I keep forgetting! lol

 

[sumi]

Sally just wants an excuse to hatch more eggs

I've taken some eggs from my broody last night to finish them off in the incubator. She bit off a bit more than she can manage, silly girl.

You can take eggs from the broody when her first 4 eggs hatch, but keep in mind that she will remain on the nest for up to 3 days after her 4 start hatching. By which time the newer eggs will be due, but it's very unlikely that she will continue sitting on them, as her instincts will tell her to abandon them and take care of her chicks that's hatched already. I think what you should do is mark the newer eggs, so you know which is which and when her 4 eggs hatch remove them to the incubator and lockdown. I.e. put them in there, on their sides, with the humidity around 60% + and leave them to hatch.

 

[Sally Sunshine]

Sally just wants an excuse to hatch more eggs

I've taken some eggs from my broody last night to finish them off in the incubator. She bit off a bit more than she can manage, silly girl.

You can take eggs from the broody when her first 4 eggs hatch, but keep in mind that she will remain on the nest for up to 3 days after her 4 start hatching. By which time the newer eggs will be due, but it's very unlikely that she will continue sitting on them, as her instincts will tell her to abandon them and take care of her chicks that's hatched already. I think what you should do is mark the newer eggs, so you know which is which and when her 4 eggs hatch remove them to the incubator and lockdown. I.e. put them in there, on their sides, with the humidity around 60% + and leave them to hatch.

a few! sumi post that pic here!!

 

[sumi]

It's only 2 doz

I took 15 for the 'bator and she's covering the rest. Just.

 

[roxannet]

Thank you for the answer!

 

[roxannet]

And about the picture, what size hen did you have to cover all those eggs!!!

 

[Sally Sunshine]

I will answer for her..... its a BANTAM!! bawahhahhaaaaaa

 

[sumi]

And about the picture, what size hen did you have to cover all those eggs!!!

A small one!

 

[roxannet]

She is tiny!! Question: Does it mean that limiting my Silkie/Leghorn cross to 4-6 large fowl egg was too conservative?