My hen is started sitting at night, when do I start counting down days

[royturkcross]

My hen started laying at night, not to much during the day (but she checks them eggs during the day). So do I start counting the 28 days now or do I need to wait until she sits day & night?

Thanks everyone for all your help this year so far. So, far you have helped me hatch 11 poults from one hen and 6 poults from another hen and now finally my third hen!! I am so excited and having so much fun!!! Plus the first 2 hens are laying eggs again!! So thank you to everyone on this site.

 

[Dogfish]

I would only count from when she lays on the nest round the clock.

 

[ziggywiggy]

That is a good question and a hard one to answer with any accuracy, but I think like dogfish. Just be prepared for a 3 or four day difference in hatching times between eggs. In other words, have an incubator ready when poults start hatching because she might leave the nest before they are all hatched.

 

[royturkcross]

I did have that issue with my last hen. She got up and moved the new poults and when I went and picked up her non hatched eggs there was one moving around and peeping at me. So now I have one healthy little poult in the house.

So, after the mother moves off the eggs, should I take them in to incubate them? and how long should I incubate the eggs to make sure all that are going to hatch? Thanks everyone for your opinions!!

 

[ziggywiggy]

Quote:
Yes, take the eggs when she gets off. Make sure your incubator is ready. You don't want to be waiting for the incubator. It depends on how many eggs she leaves as to how long you incubate them. I have a hen that started setting on 12 and now she has 15 so I mark my eggs. If I see a new egg under her today, I'll mark it 10. That way I know it was layed on the 10th so I have an idea how long it will have to stay in the incubator if she does leave early, which she probably will.
Also, you can sneak newly hatched poults under her at night.

 

[royturkcross]

Than you so much. I was wondering about putting the poults under them. The lonely fellow now really wants to be with others but I wasn't sure if I could just slip it in with her. Thank you Thank you!!