Pesky broody hens - advice please

[MammaHen]

How long does a hen have to sit on an egg before it becomes uncool to eat ? Every day I get home from work in the late afternoon. There are always a handful of broody hens that jump onto a clutch of newly laid eggs and sit tight. The problem is that by the time I get home, they could have been baking 'em eggs since 8am! I have a separate coop for the hens that I know are broody, but because I have 100 layers, there are always a couple of new ones that decide they want to be mama's while I'm at work! Problem is, this means 15-20 eggs at a time that have to be fed to the pigs as I don't know how developed they might be. And less eggs means less $$$$$...

 

[Sunny Side Up]

If you are collecting them all each day they should be fine to eat, even if they've been incubated since 8am. Most of them will have been sat upon for much less time, since the hens will be laying throughout the day. Mine usually don't get started until 10-11am, some lay as late as 2pm. In that amount of time the only difference you might see is a slight enlargement of the disc on the yolk. No veining, no blood, certainly no embryo. They are perfectly fine for human consumption.

With home-grown eggs it's always advisable anyway to crack each one in a separate saucer before adding it to the pan or bowl. Just in case there's a surprise in one. You can tell your customers to do the same, promise a replacement if ever there's an inedible egg.

Have you tried breaking your broodies by putting them in wire-bottomed cages for a few days?

 

[MammaHen]

No, but I'll most certainly try. Thanks for your help. Maybe you can also advise me on how to move a broody hen and her eggs successfully. As my hens are free range I sometimes come across a broody under a bush in the middle of nowhere. Rats, otters and mongoose/mongeese? are a real problem here. I've tried all sorts of ways but never been successful.

 

[Dirt Road]

Quote:
If they've stolen their nest out, it is very difficult to get them to move successfully. When I move one, I make the move after dark, and make sure she can't see out of the new pen. Visual barriers can be vegetation, straw bales, wood, roofing material etc. They will normally run around for a bit at first light, then finally settle back on the eggs. After 2 or 3 days you can remove the visual barriers if you wish, and they will stay on their eggs. I would still expect a percentage of quitters from hens who had nested out under a bush.

Jim

 

[Sunny Side Up]

That's excellent advice from Dirt Road. I would only add that it might also be possible to place a some sort of cage around the hen right where she made her nest. Depending on just where she made her nest and how attractive it could be to the passing predators. She'd just need room to get up & poop, and would need food & water provided.

Like Dirt Road said, there are some hens who are more easily upset by changes while they're brooding, but some who will stick with it no matter what. But using those recommended methods will give you the best chances of them staying on the job.

Where are you in South Africa? It must be a rural area, with all those chickens & pigs too. Are you raising any other animals besides? I'm glad you've joined us on this forum!

 

[MammaHen]

Thanks Jim and S s Up. I live on the southern coast of S Africa in a farming area outside a town called Knysna. Really blessed to live in this amazingly beautiful area with awesome weather. We have a smallholding about 4.5 hectares. I have actually given up the broiler chickens thank goodness so only have about 100 layers. They are SOO much less labour intensive! We actually have 6 new piglets now. They are a cross between a normal ol domestic pig and a wild boar. I'm going to post pics tomorrow as they are absolutely georgous. DH is now planning on some serious pig farming. Came back today with news that he has secured ALL the waste for a huge fruit and veg supplier in town as long as he picks it up every day mon to sat. I thought he'd won the bloody lottery. He cures his own salami, sausages, bacon, copa blah blah blah so I think we'll be gettin alot more pigs soon....I think I beter update my profile. Off to go get the latest count on children...