Setting hen pooped on/around eggs!! Advice?

[mothersin2ition]

Is this going to cause a problem? She is on about day 6 today- will any bacteria get through the shell and wreak havoc?
Can you tell Ive never done this before

 

[mothersin2ition]

~Bump~
Anyone?

 

[menageriemama]

I am sorry, I dont know, but I am also interested in this. Anyone know?

 

[swtangel321]

She should be getting off the eggs at least once a day to poop,eat, and drink for up to 30 min. If she is not getting off I would take her off for a little while (up to 30 min) and then make sure she gets back on (watch her while shes off) if she doesnt get back on by herself put her back on.


If she is still pooping in the nest with the eggs I would clean up her mess daily just so it doesnt get to nasty in there !!!!

Good luck and keep me posted !!!!

 

[themoorethemerrier]

A sloppy mother! I had two ducks and a chicken do that. If the poo is wet, then yes, it will wreak havoc. Poop coats and doesn't allow the babies to breathe, and it can intro bacteria.

Can they get off their nest? We made the mistake once of putting the food and water so close to the nest that our one duck just stretched and a stayed on her nest. If they're lazy or a bit over zealous, they'll do that. I increased whole corn and gave them some oatmeal. It made the poop a bit less sticky, and easier for me to fling out of the nest. Mind you, just until you get her to stop doing her business in the nest. Encourage her to get off by putting food closer, but not too close...

We had to clean off a few eggs at 14 days after one egg exploded, and another clutch at 10 days after the hen pooed on them. Warm water and soft cloth when she off. Be careful.

If she keeps doing it, don't let her brood and incu, it's just more work for you, and more potential chicks lost.

Let me know how it goes!

K Moore

 

[mothersin2ition]

Thank you for the replies

We usually get her up off the nest 2x per day to have her eat and drink (she wont get off by herself!) and she usually poops then, so I was surprised to find the eggs dirty yesterday. I think I will try to get her off the nest once or twice more per day and see if that helps.
Thanks to everyone who replied! I will update when/if we get any hatching in a couple of weeks

 

[karrie]

My hens occasionally did that too. I let them out or made them get out twice a day to eat, run around, & poop. If anything was in the nest, I just cleaned it up. The eggs were usually not too dirty.

 

[onthespot]

I have a silkie right now that is doing that. We call her Ugly Betty (for a number of reasons) but she is all I have right now and she is setting the most gorgeous dozen dark marans eggs, She could poop in my cheerios and I would just let her because I want those eggs to hatch! I tried placing her food further away and she about starved to death in three days. I hand fed her and left some mush next to her and she is just chillin on her eggs. I drag her off the eggs sometimes. I also pull out the soiled bedding and keep handy some broke down bedding and when I pull her broody poop from in back I just re=stuff the back of the nest with new hay. I'll let you know in a couple weeks if it worked or not