Show me your broody and I'll show you mine.....UH, OHHHHH now two?

[akcskye]

With me, Heidi decided she would become protector of the eggs after 2 days had passed without picking up the eggs.

I have a bad back and hubby was out of town, so I couldn't go out and pick them up because I was in very bad shape at that time.

So, Heidi decided she would become those eggies moma being "we didn't appear to want them either" haha.

Now, I assume that you realize you need a rooster for the eggs to hatch, right?

It's stressful enough on a hen with the eggs being fertile, so it wouldn't be to any benefit at all to go broody without them being fertile.

Please don't take offense to my response...I either over looked or you didn't mention whether or not you had a rooster...so that's why my response is as it is.

 

[airmom1c05]

No offense taken.

And, yes, I have a Silkie Serama roo who I purchased when I got the hen. He gets after her for a few seconds several times a day, so I'm hoping her eggs are fertile, but I've never candled one, and as I mentioned, so far they go straight to the refrigerator unless they are still warm and I let them reach room temp before refrigeration. Will you candle them, and if so at what point? How many would I leave before determining she's not interested in going broody. How many days before it wouldn't be safe to eat the eggs if she's not going broody can the eggs be outside in fluctuating temperatures? Thanks for your reply. Broody hens on this thread are so pretty! I can hardly wait!!!

 

[akcskye]

There is a sticky on the very top of this forum, here is the link:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=16008

Crack open one of your newer eggs that you're going to eat and compare it to the pics...you'll know your eggs are fertile or not by that.

I would bet that if even one that you're going to eat is fertile, that you can safely assume that all your eggs are being fertilized.

 

[airmom1c05]

I've seen and read that post, but I have never even seen the small white dot on any of the eggs I have saved. I was guessing it was because I refrigerate them so quickly. Doesn't the egg have to be a few days old and at room or outdoor temp the whole time for that to even occur?

 

[akcskye]

That I'm not sure...but the one egg that we ate after our Rooster Andy died was fertilized...but the others have all been no white dot and sometimes a very small white dot, and we don't have a rooster now.

We collect anywhere from 2 to 6 hours after laying...depending upon who is home or not, and then it's straight to a warm water wash and the fridge.

That fertile egg went through the same procedure.

 

[airmom1c05]

OK. Good to know. Thank you.

 

[theOEGBman]

Here's my girl a week or so ago...

And this is what she brought out yesterday!

 

[countrygirl4513]

I've got 2 blue cochins broody. One is sitting on 13 eggs, I've candled 7 so far and they are good, but I don't want to push my luck checking the others.(she's in her 2nd week)My other blue is sitting on 6, I think. Haven't got pics of the ladies, will have to wait till time allows.

 

[bjcoop]

OEGB what little cuties you found!

Just love those little fluffs. Wish one of mine would go broodie. Just too cold here....

-----------------------
16 spoilt chickens, 1 13yo rescue chicken-hound dd

dh

 

[theOEGBman]

Thanks! I decided to downsize and sold 30 birds, then she showed up with those!