Rotten egg broken under broody hen

[JoF]

Broody Hen sitting on 9 eggs

I check periodically. She is due to hatch any day now.

now there were only 5 eggs, that are all covered in gunk and it smells totally rotten under there. Poor thing, it really stinks.


this could have been like this for a few days already. Should I remove the eggs? wipe them? They are REALLY covered in stinky gunk, straw etc.

Or should I clean it all out and let her start again?

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Welcome To BYC

I'd try gently moving them from the nest, clean the nest up, wipe away the gunk.
See if she needs a good wiping/cleaning as well.

Candle the "good" egg and remove any that are no good.
Hopefully she'll not break broodiness while you give her a cleanup.

 

[JoF]

Welcome To BYC

I'd try gently moving them from the nest, clean the nest up, wipe away the gunk.
See if she needs a good wiping/cleaning as well.

Candle the "good" egg and remove any that are no good.
Hopefully she'll not break broodiness while you give her a cleanup.

I will try this. she's "due" any day now so I guess if we don't get chicks in a few days after trying this I will start her with fresh eggs.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Give it a try and see.

Do check her over really well for lice/mites and her body condition as well.

Some hens can keep up with being broody for a long period of time, but often they can waste away or be prone to getting parasites.

See that she's eating well and drinking, dust bathing, leaving the nest, etc.

 

[JoF]

Give it a try and see.

Do check her over really well for lice/mites and her body condition as well.

Some hens can keep up with being broody for a long period of time, but often they can waste away or be prone to getting parasites.

See that she's eating well and drinking, dust bathing, leaving the nest, etc.

when a hen goes broody I give them a anti-mite anti parasite treatment right away so she should be good for parasites. she felt in good condition when I washed her belly, hasn't lost much weight... If I do give her fresh eggs to keep sitting I will give her a "treat" every day of yogurt and mash just to make sure she can get through.