Thanks KMH I appreciate you explaining that to me. From what I am understanding if she gets upset and starts to pace and not sit on the eggs that is not detrimental but if the eggs were to begin to hatch and she wasn't sitting on them that would be bad, right? I always thought that she couldn't be off those eggs for more than 10-15 minutes to eat, stretch, etc. It is now in the 50's at night here in GA I would think if she wouldn't sit on them they would get too cold and die. I sort of wish I had waited until spring when I'm not dealing with cold temps. Live and learn :~/
So KMH ~ I successfully moved Lacy and her eggs to the rabbit cage in the potting shed. At first she ran to the feeder and then she sat down between the water and the feed. I went to move her over to her eggs and of course she was upset so I got a good peck on the hand. I got her to really look at her eggs and then she crouched down in the box and started pulling the eggs under her.
- I like the last boy's colour!I had a hen leave the eggs for an entire day and give up on them on day 12-14 (didn't keep track of the hatch date
) and now they are under a broody silkie and still moving (think they will hatch this weekend - getting full). So eggs can definitely cool down for quite some time and still be okay. An hour shouldn't hurt the eggs unless they are in lockdown (after day 18). After day 18 the hens should not get up to eat, drink or poop. They know this and don't - so let them decide. If they decide it's okay - it's okay. I still refer to any egg after day 18 gestation as 'in lockdown'.
Those 2 are very special to me. Miracle babies!!
This sweet girl won't eat, drink, or poop unless I kick her out. She is a dream broody hen and usually very sweet although she pecked me tonight with the move, I don't blame her one bit- I like the last boy's colour!
I had a hen leave the eggs for an entire day and give up on them on day 12-14 (didn't keep track of the hatch date) and now they are under a broody silkie and still moving (think they will hatch this weekend - getting full). So eggs can definitely cool down for quite some time and still be okay. An hour shouldn't hurt the eggs unless they are in lockdown (after day 18). After day 18 the hens should not get up to eat, drink or poop. They know this and don't - so let them decide. If they decide it's okay - it's okay. I still refer to any egg after day 18 gestation as 'in lockdown'.
Getting her settled before day 18 is important. You want her to feel comfortable where she is going to hatch the babies. I usually move them on day 16 if I move them at all. I like to give them kennels to hatch/set in so they can be easily moved (kennel and all).
Some of my hens hold their bowels much better than others. I have one hen that will defecate even if I keep food and water out of her kennel. I even kick her off for a few minutes after day 18. Better than pooping all over her eggs, right?
Shrink wrapped happens before internal pip usually, but can happen after. I once lost an entire hatch to it when I opened the incubator on day 19. It was just one day after lockdown - didn't think that would do anything. I was showing someone that was visiting what candling looks like. Very stupid. Out of 30 eggs - 2 hatched.Those 2 are very special to me. Miracle babies!!
