PlymouthBR broody hatchalong.

[L1sa]

Day 2

Hi there,

My broody BR has been broody for about 10 days, (don't have a roo) so I got some F eggs from a lady at work and put them under my girl on Thursday. She's happily hankered down in the main coop just outside the next box so the rest of the girls can still lay. I thought I may as well just leave her there. I'm planning to let nature do what nature does and just leave it all to my girl.

This is only my second broody hatch and I'm totally obsessed! And it's only day 2!! Muma is only 9 months herself, but so far seems completely committed.

I would love to know if anyone can have a go at guessing the breeds that laid the eggs as the lady I got them from isn't sure of the breeds she has. They are a mix of colours and I'll try and get a picture uploaded!

So eggs-cited (sorry!!) I want to candle them, but am determined not to touch them at all for the duration of the brood. I feel like an expectant mother myself!!

 

[L1sa]

Here's my girl 'Doris' with her sister squeezed next to her!

 

[lena_]

Congratulations! Unsure of the breeds(it will be virtually impossible until they hatch) but it looks like they could be Easter Eggers(the coloured ones at least)

Why don't you want to candle them?

 

[L1sa]

I'm not sure really, I guess I worry that somehow I'll damage them? I did candle my last brood and loved watching them grow, but I think because only 1 successfully hatched, I don't want to do anything that may risk the babies.

 

[lena_]

I'm not sure really, I guess I worry that somehow I'll damage them? I did candle my last brood and loved watching them grow, but I think because only 1 successfully hatched, I don't want to do anything that may risk the babies.

Hmm. That's odd. I candle every four days and have never had issues. As long as you wash your hands and are careful not to drop the eggs it should be okay. If you are very worried about it then it's okay not too. Keep us posted, broodies are wonderful!

 

[L1sa]

Thanks. I love it when they go broody too. I think the desire to candle will overpower me though!

 

[lena_]

Thanks. I love it when they go broody too. I think the desire to candle will overpower me though!

Lol, last time I promised myself not to candle... That lasted around a week....

 

[L1sa]

Day 4

So I've just been out to check on my girl (it's 8.30pm and dark) decided I was going to candle tonight and ... there's been a breakage! Put my hand under her to get an egg out and she was a bit gooey! Shone the torch and there's wet egg stuck to her and shell, so I took out the shell and it looks like it wasn't one of the fertilised ones...phew. But do I need to clean up the mess? I tried to candle a couple of the f eggs but I couldn't see anything anyway, the shell was maybe too dark? I think I'll just leave it till the morning and then go and have another look.

 

[lena_]

Day 4

So I've just been out to check on my girl (it's 8.30pm and dark) decided I was going to candle tonight and ... there's been a breakage! Put my hand under her to get an egg out and she was a bit gooey! Shone the torch and there's wet egg stuck to her and shell, so I took out the shell and it looks like it wasn't one of the fertilised ones...phew. But do I need to clean up the mess? I tried to candle a couple of the f eggs but I couldn't see anything anyway, the shell was maybe too dark? I think I'll just leave it till the morning and then go and have another look.

Yes, you definitely should clean up the mess. It could cause bacteria to get into the eggs, which would then cause a blood ring. It's best to do it at night, to cause the least stress to the hen. Gently wipe the eggs with a warm flannel to remove the goop. After that you should change the nesting material.

As for candling, I find that day 7 is optimum viewing time for coloured eggs. You'll probably be able to see the embryo in the pink-beige egg, and maybe the blues.

My broody hen Marielle has broken a couple of her Old English Game Bantam(or OEGB) eggs because of her size. I decided to put the two remaining eggs in some plastic Easter egg shells. She also has a duck egg and three laying hybrid X Rhode Island Red eggs. I was good this time and didn't set any mint green Easter Egger X Silkie eggs, I still have two from the last hatch

 

[L1sa]

I've checked on her this morning and she was a bit of a mess! One of the eggs was outside, I'm guessing it got stuck to her as she came out this morning, it was still warm so I put it back in the nest. All 6 eggs are still there. I changed all the bedding and she was off the nest so I cleaned her up too! She had hard crusty egg in patches all over her feathers. As for the eggs, I couldn't really clean them up as the egg was all dried and solid, so unless I really scrubbed, it wouldn't come off, so I've had to leave it, it's not on all of them. Just have to keep my fingers crossed now!

Why is egg hatching never straight forward!! Now I'll be stressed for the next sixteen days!!