Scientist Answers ? Do Broody hens stop turning eggs,

[iluvsedward]

is it bad if I don't stop turning them until they pip? or if I stop turning on day 15?

 

[funnybirds]

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Wow, what a nice thing to say. Yay You!!!

 

[growinupinfl]

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I have wondered that exact same thing. I have read at one place you can stop turning if you want on day 14 then others swear it is day 18, still others yet day 20. I decided to put a stick with some tape at the end through a hole so I can turn my few eggs that I put in after I started the first batch. The reason I decided this method is I believe it is the loss of humidity that is the problem more so than the turning. I saw one of my hens actually rotate in the nest on the last few days before hatching.

But I can tell you she did not leave the nest. I put some baby powder down in front of the nest, and for three days there were no chicken footprints in the baby powder. So they turned around but didn't get off the nest, and they only lost one out of thirteen chicks. This leads me to believe that the turning is secondary to the humidity levels. If you open the incubator to turn the eggs you are going to cause the humidity levels to drop. Hence the no opening the incubator rule. That is what I have figured out in my past few days of dealing with broody hens for the first time. I hope this helps some..


Christal