Simulated Natural Nest Incubation~Experiment #1 So it begins....

[AmericanMom]

Zanna
Thank you so much for the offer and i will certainly keep that in mind!!

 

[Lacy Blues]

I have found myself in a dilemma where an artificial incubator may have to be thrown together... Got my Broody sitting on 5 eggs, day 10 and candled last night, all look good.... Got 10 more in the incubator on day 7, again, all look good... Why do you ask did I do this.. Momma was sitting 9 eggs when a jealous hen tried to take her nest resulting in 4 eggs being broken, I tossed some in the incubator figuring I would allow her to adopt them after they hatch....Momma is now secluded and happy

Here is the dilemma I find myself in... In touch with a women who is selling her adult Bourbon Red Tom and four hens, although I cannot afford them nor am I set up right now for adult turkeys they are laying eggs, knowing how desperately I want Turkeys she is selling me the eggs at $10. a dozen....I simply cannot and will not pass this up.. I am going to give the momma hen the eggs from the incubator but have little doubt she will sit long enough to hatch them out so I am going to need something for the last couple days...I'm hoping she will sit if she feels them moving around but from what I have read I'm not hopeful... I have a small Styrofoam ice chest and light and such...we shall see what I can come up with , any suggestions?

You would be surprised how long a determined broody will sit. Like Bee said, if she's worth her salt, she'll sit the whole time, no problem. Are turkeys 28 days? I've never hatched them so don't know. One thing you might do since she's already been setting for almost 2 weeks, is in the morning when you go out to feed, make sure she gets off the nest for a stretch, an evacuation, a bit to eat and a good drink of water and she'll get back on. Once a day will likely be sufficient. That's just my way. I don't like my broodies to waste away any more than absolutely necessary.

Will she be hatching out your turkeys? It was a tiny bit confusing what you were saying. Maybe give your chicken eggs to the other girl that wants to be broody (after she settles in)?

 

[AmericanMom]

No, sorry I wasn't more clear, I have ten chicken eggs in the gator that are running three days behind the broody eggs, it is those I am adding to her to make way for rhetoric turkey eggs. I know, I hadn't planned it this way, I actually thought I was another month from getting turkey but these just kinda dropped in my lap so to speak... she is so far very good, I open her pen in the morning and leave to to get up when she is ready and so far she does atleast once a day, I never see her but the evidence is always underfoot lol

 

[Lacy Blues]

Oh, I see. No worries then. She'll easily hatch those eggs.

 

[AmericanMom]

sorry for the typos, I'm on my "smart phone" lol

 

[Beekissed]

No, sorry I wasn't more clear, I have ten chicken eggs in the gator that are running three days behind the broody eggs, it is those I am adding to her to make way for rhetoric turkey eggs. I know, I hadn't planned it this way, I actually thought I was another month from getting turkey but these just kinda dropped in my lap so to speak... she is so far very good, I open her pen in the morning and leave to to get up when she is ready and so far she does atleast once a day, I never see her but the evidence is always underfoot lol

Maybe if you take her chicks when she hatches them and leave her to sitting the johnny come lately eggs, then return the chicks when she hatches those eggs, it will all work out alright?

 

[Beekissed]

Will turn X3 per day now, thanks to Pete....such a dear! Whenever I picture Pete I can hear him talking like Crocodile Dundee and it always makes me smile.

So...how is everyone's hatches going out there today?

Mine? Those eggs are just layin' there.....not doing much....I keep staring at them but they just lay there. It's true..a watched incubator doesn't go any faster.

Captain's Log Entry, March 28, in the year of our Lord, 2014: Day 2 of exile on Incubation Island. Today I turned the eggs. Looking forward to turning them later on. Ship's crew growing restless, must find food and fresh water before they decide to mutiny. Will log progress.

 

[foxvalleyfarm]

Will turn X3 per day now, thanks to Pete....such a dear! Whenever I picture Pete I can hear him talking like Crocodile Dundee and it always makes me smile. So...how is everyone's hatches going out there today? Mine? Those eggs are just layin' there.....not doing much....I keep staring at them but they just lay there. It's true..a watched incubator doesn't go any faster. Captain's Log Entry, March 28, in the year of our Lord, 2014: Day 2 of exile on Incubation Island. Today I turned the eggs. Looking forward to turning them later on. Ship's crew growing restless, must find food and fresh water before they decide to mutiny. Will log progress.

Lol! Poor Bee

 

[Cowpoke]

AmericanMom stated "Momma was sitting 9 eggs when a jealous hen tried to take her nest resulting in 4 eggs being broken, I tossed some in the incubator figuring I would allow her to adopt them after they hatch....Momma is now secluded and happy."

When you say secluded, do you mean completely out of sight of the other chickens ( in a separate coop or pen) or just in a box or cage? Or do you just put her in a covered run inside the other chickens run, so she still sees all the other chickens?

If anybody else wants to chime in, Please do. How do you deal with a broody hen?

Bee, please forgive me, I'm not intending of hi-jacking your thread and I am also excited to see how this clutch turns out!

 

[AmericanMom]

Maybe if you take her chicks when she hatches them and leave her to sitting the johnny come lately eggs, then return the chicks when she hatches those eggs, it will all work out alright?

Took 5 eggs out of the incubator to Broody Butt last night, she accepted without a problem and immediately worked at arranging them under her, This morning she is laid out like normal brooding away... Hoping because she has 9 days til her original clutch is set to hatch that the 5 eggs that are a few days behind may be able to catch up... No better brooder than the mother herself.. made the decision to go ahead and cull the more porous eggs , Something I have never had to do but want her to raise this clutch and give her the best opportunity..

Incubator is cleaned and awaits the Turkey eggs on Sunday..

Sorry for hijacking your thread Bee...