She's broody...I'm conflicted

[Mylied]

Ok, so I took some eggs from her today and brought them into the house. She's only sitting on one right now. Can I put the eggs I took today back under her and just start removing new eggs from tomorrow or have I messed something up? If she's broody she's not laying so, if I want 5 eggs under her then how does that work?

Oh, and...she's really cute! She growls a lot and puffs her feathers but hasn't pecked me yet.

edited to say I've been pecked

How long was she sitting on them? If they are new, just put the 5 you want under her and remove new eggs. If they are started (as in she's been sitting a couple days+) they might've died when you removed them. I'd put 5 fresh eggs and start new.

 

[chalet girl]

I'd put 5 fresh eggs and start new.

Thanks for all of the great advice! I think I'll collect some eggs from the other girls and put them all under her at the same time.

One last question, I imagine just keeping the fresh eggs somewhere dry and with an indoor temperature that stays constant will keep them safe for a couple of days until I have the 5 or so to put under her?? I think I'll separate her from the others with a dividing wall as well so she doesn't take extra eggs and the others don't disturb her. I'm really excited about this new experience now.

 

[Mylied]

Thanks for all of the great advice! I think I'll collect some eggs from the other girls and put them all under her at the same time.

One last question, I imagine just keeping the fresh eggs somewhere dry and with an indoor temperature that stays constant will keep them safe for a couple of days until I have the 5 or so to put under her?? I think I'll separate her from the others with a dividing wall as well so she doesn't take extra eggs and the others don't disturb her. I'm really excited about this new experience now.

Yes. A kitchen counter is fine. Don't wash. Good luck with your adventure!

 

[starri33]

I use a permanent marker for marking my eggs, I do this as soon as I confirm she is indeed broody giving her what ever eggs I want her to have, then I start collecting any new eggs, the marking makes it a whole lot easier for telling the new eggs from the incubated, I sell my eggs and do not want to accidentally sell a person a egg with a partially developed chick, I have saved eggs for up to 7 days to have her hatch, what I did with that is give her a couple of eggs to sit on and then when I've collected the one's I wanted, I just gave her the new ones and took the others.

 

[chalet girl]

...I sell my eggs and do not want to accidentally sell a person a egg with a partially developed chick, I have saved eggs for up to 7 days to have her hatch, what I did with that is give her a couple of eggs to sit on and then when I've collected the one's I wanted, I just gave her the new ones and took the others.

Thanks for the help. Do you sell the eggs for eating or hatching?

 

[starri33]

Thanks for the help. ☺ Do you sell the eggs for eating or hatching?

When I sell the eggs for eating, I refrigerate them, if someone is going to want hatching eggs, I just don't refrigerate. Since mine are currently a barn yard mix, I only ask 2.00 for a dozen eggs. I could sell them for more, but I'm not in it for the money, it's just help to feed the little monsters. People around here are asking anywhere from 3.00 a dozen up to 4.00 for regular eggs, then more for Turkey eggs and Duck Eggs. Silkie hatching eggs are a 1.25 per egg, the Americuna eggs that I buy for hatching are 1.00 per egg, I'll be charging soon for the hatching eggs and for the chicks that I hatch for others, I have a hard time even with charging for the eggs for eating as most of our community do good to afford to put food on the table.