Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[BullChick]

I caught the girls out of the nest earlier, and saw only four (SPR at that) eggs. I marked them, collected the eggs from the other box, and thought we were done for the day. I just went back in, and saw an unmarked egg. I swear it wasn’t hiding in there earlier, so I took it, and was rewarded with a glare and a hard peck.

 

[Perris]

I have been reading some old poultry handbooks, and something chimed with a post on this (or possibly another) thread I read recently, where the topic of which way up a hatching egg should be stored came up. One of the old books says big end down, the other says pointed end down. What, if there is one, is the current consensus?

 

[Molpet]

I have been reading some old poultry handbooks, and something chimed with a post on this (or possibly another) thread I read recently, where the topic of which way up a hatching egg should be stored came up. One of the old books says big end down, the other says pointed end down. What, if there is one, is the current consensus?

Somewhere there is a thread that for long term big end down... but I store little end down

 

[BullChick]

Fisherlady, I trust Miss Loud (the one that started first) to stay with brooding, but I am wondering if you’ve had a hen that got up a million times a day. Do you think it’s just a first time thing, or her permanent style?

 

[BullChick]

I am of the pointed end down crowd.

 

[Molpet]

I have been reading some old poultry handbooks, and something chimed with a post on this (or possibly another) thread I read recently, where the topic of which way up a hatching egg should be stored came up. One of the old books says big end down, the other says pointed end down. What, if there is one, is the current consensus?

First post, sorta in the middle. https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...thread-w-sally-sunshine-shipped-eggs.1137467/

 

[Perris]

thanks - I'll read it now

 

[Perris]

OK, so they found that if the eggs are stored without turning point up, their hatchability is equal to or better than that of eggs stored point down. Eggs stored point down do as well only if they are turned. Sample size 180 in each of 6 experiments; that'll do for me.
Here's the link in case anyone else wants to read it
https://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/pdf/10.4141/cjas69-005

 

[fisherlady]

Fisherlady, I trust Miss Loud (the one that started first) to stay with brooding, but I am wondering if you’ve had a hen that got up a million times a day. Do you think it’s just a first time thing, or her permanent style?

It sounds like Ms. Loud is dedicated and her buddy is more casual and possibly not a hormonal broody but rather a 'broody by companionship' case. When birds are part of a small group or particularly tight with a flockmate they may stay with them in the nest just because they don't want to be out much by themselves. Time will tell on her behavior with chicks and she may find her friendly flockmate chases her out once chicks are involved.

 

[Faraday40]

I have been reading some old poultry handbooks, and something chimed with a post on this (or possibly another) thread I read recently, where the topic of which way up a hatching egg should be stored came up. One of the old books says big end down, the other says pointed end down. What, if there is one, is the current consensus?

Whether for hatching or eating, we always store them air cell up = pointed end down. If a 4H member stores their eggs pointy side up, then they get some points deducted.

Although we knew that, we also learned that if your eggs are being judged, you must select 12 that are the same size, shape & color. In other words 'boring.' Our customers prefer a rainbow dozen but the judges will not. I'm glad we asked..... Last year our kids won Best in Show for both egg production categories.