Poop on eggs?

[JodyJo]

Ok, I had a woman on FB tell me that broody hens poop in their nests, all over their eggs, to raise the humidity levels...I think this is hogwash, seeing as the poop is full of bacteria....opinions?

 

[Yorkshire Coop]

I agree that it's hogwash!! The hen wants to keep the eggs as viable as possible so will poop when she gets off the nest to eat and drink. Mother hen knows best and will know poop on eggs is not good for the eggs due to as you say the bacteria. Also pooping in the nest will cause a stink which would attract predators so she will poop away from the eggs to keep predators at bay. The hen creates the humidity needed from her herself, often plucking the breast feathers to get the skin exposed to the eggs.

 

[MeepBeep]

They do not poop when broody, they keep the nest pretty darn tidy, but they have been observed drooling/spitting on the eggs in certain instances to boost humidity...

On the humidity subject, broody birds have little control over humidity and thus don't really monitor it as there is little they can do to control it... If it's 95° and rainy with 100% humidity that is what it is, and if it's 95° with 30% humidity that is again what it is, less them drooling or spitting on the eggs, as they lack sweat glands and can only marginally raise humidity with their skin to egg contact...

 

[appps]

Never heard that one before. My broody never pooped in the nest.

 

[shortgrass]

Yeah, that's "hogwash"... It CAN happen, eggs getting poopy

But no, my nesting boxes are not poopy at all, they don't roost in them ROFL

DUCK nests.... NOW we can talk poop in the nest on purpose lol, dirty ducks ha-ha

 

[JodyJo]

yeah, I left that group, I was basically scolded for being confrontational with her for correcting her....I should say stating my opinion and saying all the research I had done shows that not to be true....oh well...this is a more mature forum with more knowledgeable people...I'll stick to this one!!