I didn't notice my hen laying eggs until she had 3 of them, she still had chicks with her and they all loaded into the same box at night - I checked one night to make sure they where all in there and wow there was the nest!
I decided to leave her alone, and see what happened (largely because I lready had a dozen eggs to eat) well, she kept laying until she went broody at 15 eggs, now I'm waiting until the 25th. (she kicked 2 of the chicks out to a tree to sleep at night, and I encouraged the 3 other hens out because I saw a dirty foot print on an egg) I hope that didn't hurt it...but they all look beautiful now and she's been a great mama before...it's not her first go around.
You can remover a few of the eggs (maybe the first few laid) and eat them, your hen will continue to lay her eggs until she thinks she has enough for a clutch(a diff number for all) then she'll go broody, until then, even fertile eggs won't develop and you won't be able to tell, should you decide to eat it.
Lot a experts say that first egg may not be well developed - if it's smaller or shaped differently, I'd remove it and do a soft boil over bits of bread (your hen won't notice)
I got chickens for the eggs, then people started giving me chicks, and now I have too many if that's possible, so why am I letting her sit on 15 more possible chicks? Because she is such a good mama and they are so adorable that's why! The chicks are the most fun of all and I think you may really enjoy having a little flock to play with...If you have the room I vote, let em hatch!
I decided to leave her alone, and see what happened (largely because I lready had a dozen eggs to eat) well, she kept laying until she went broody at 15 eggs, now I'm waiting until the 25th. (she kicked 2 of the chicks out to a tree to sleep at night, and I encouraged the 3 other hens out because I saw a dirty foot print on an egg) I hope that didn't hurt it...but they all look beautiful now and she's been a great mama before...it's not her first go around.
You can remover a few of the eggs (maybe the first few laid) and eat them, your hen will continue to lay her eggs until she thinks she has enough for a clutch(a diff number for all) then she'll go broody, until then, even fertile eggs won't develop and you won't be able to tell, should you decide to eat it.
Lot a experts say that first egg may not be well developed - if it's smaller or shaped differently, I'd remove it and do a soft boil over bits of bread (your hen won't notice)
I got chickens for the eggs, then people started giving me chicks, and now I have too many if that's possible, so why am I letting her sit on 15 more possible chicks? Because she is such a good mama and they are so adorable that's why! The chicks are the most fun of all and I think you may really enjoy having a little flock to play with...If you have the room I vote, let em hatch!
