Need some advice

[KZ]

I was letting my peahen brood on some eggs I assumed were not fertile - she seemed happy and I wanted her to stop laying. Earlier in the season she had already laid about 10 eggs that were not fertile - I was all excited at first, candling them, incubating them then finding they were not fertile so I gave up. Anyway, today I decided to clean the pen and removed the eggs. One egg had a crack so I opened it first and I was surprised to find a formed chick. It was not alive but I wonder if the other 2 are viable. I tried candling them and I just can't tell - seems to me she has been on the nest since the first of August give or take so they are either close or overdue. Anyway, if they were alive, would they be moving around a lot inside the egg? Seems like it would be crowded in there and maybe they wouldnt move so much. I am afraid to open or dispose of them assuming they are dead.... sheesh! Some advice would be appreciated~!

 

[Denali (Auntie's Shadow)]

I would just wait until you are sure they're dead. You know, just to be sure?

 

[coloradopeafowl]

I agree wait at least another week if they were laid in the beginning of August.

 

[CountrySoul]

I totally agree! Nothing is more exciting then the possibility of fertile eggs..... I bought 3 fertile pea eggs. I started candling them right away. I noticed the two that were growing about day 7 or so, but by day 18 or 20, I could not tell!

I saw no movement, but the egg was dark inside. Very hard to candle (which also meant there was something other than yolk inside).

I heard it was very hard to hatch peacock eggs, so I too was super impatient. I did hold off, and YAY! both eggs hatched!

All I would advise is that if they are not clear or glowing when you candle them, most likely there is a growing peacock inside!

I'd wait at least a week before removing them.

I can't wait to hear how it goes. Please keep us informed!

Best of luck to you and your hen!

 

[KZ]

Well, the chicks were not living, poor little things. They were fully developed, but just did not hatch. The mom was really good about sitting on them, so makes me wonder how to prevent this next year - maybe just taking them away and incubating them from the beginning. Well, at least I know my peas are producers! Thanks for all the good thoughts!