Switching out eggs from a broody

[Lonomakana]

Tonight I'm going to try to take out the "mutt" eggs from under a broody hen who's been sitting on them for 2 days. I'm guessing that she has about 7 eggs under her. I want to place some other fertile eggs under her.

Questions.... Do you think I can put more eggs under her than I take out? I have a dozen new eggs. She's a big Buff Orpington.

Does it matter how many days she's been sitting as far as switching out eggs?

Is there any particular technique to do the switch? I have a flip up door behind her nest. Do I take all the old eggs out and then put the new ones in? Keep my hand under her until all eggs are switched? Or am I over-thinking this?

Thanks for your help

 

[rooster0209]

The time she has been sitting wont matter.

I just lifted my hen back a bit, removed the "faux" eggs and put guinea eggs under her. She clucked a few annoyed clucks and tried to peck at my hand. Made a few more noises as she settled back down and never seemed to notice that her nest was fuller.

Good luck

 

[Lollipop]

You have the right idea. She can cover 12 eggs and that is the limiting factor. You don`t need to keep your hand in place, but be gentle, with no quick moves. Take all the old eggs out before you put the new ones in and you won`t get them mixed up. One thing you didn`t mention, is your nest private for her alone and is it at floor level? She needs to be penned alone to keep other hens from laying in her nest and the nest should be at floor level with no obstackles to facilitate the chicks entering and leaving the nest. If you have to move her, you might want to do it before you switch the eggs and let her set on the new nest for a night to get used to the idea. Good luck.......Pop

 

[Lonomakana]

I have her in "the love shack", a 3x4 hutch. The nest box is on the floor. I was hoping to put all 12 of the "new" eggs under her. Thanks for the help.

 

[Lonomakana]

Update on Operation Egg Swap.

I snatched the 6 eggs the hen was sitting on, last night. I replaced them with 8 different eggs. Today, I found two of the eggs broken and tossed out of the nest. I guess this girl can count. At least I hope those will be the only ones that she destroys.