Update on my broody hens:
Bad news:
The two "unsure" hens (Alix - BSL & Heather - Blue And/PR) that I was doing the experiment with decided that sitting on eggs was not for them. They were pacing back and forth yesterday morning when I put them back in their crates after potty/eating break. Usually, Heather would sit back down on the eggs, but instead she started to squawk and continued for several minutes. Unfortunately, Heather had sat on the eggs long enough that I think they started to develop! I candled them, and a few of the yolks looked darker than normal. So, I broke open one of them, and the cells had started to divide and there was some red veins or something. This morning, Heather, went back to those crates and acted like she was looking for those eggs! But, I'd already removed them and brought them inside. Hopefully, she'll decide by hatch time if she wants to go broody or not.
Good news:
Daisy the EE & Lydia the PC are broody through and through. I even have to encourage them to get off the nest two times a day. I'll give them a few more days before letting them choose when to come out on their own. They're growling, hissing, fluffing up their feathers, turning the eggs, etc. So, I'm pretty sure the eggs under them are developing, so can they be added to my total count for the hatch-a-long? They were set on 3/9 around 3 pm.
Daisy has 11 eggs - an old pro - 3rd brood and not yet 2 years old
Lydia has 10 eggs - first time momma, but she has quite the broody stare!
So, 42 eggs in the incubator and 21 under broody hens = 63!
Craigslist here I come! I actually only NEED 10- 12 replacement layers for this year, but ...
Not all the eggs will develop, especially since it's my first incubator time, and it's the earliest I've hatched with broodies.
Plus, I'm preparing for all the roosters that will inevitably hatch, and I only want to keep the most colorful and unique hens.
So, when all is said and done, I should have just the right number, right? Is that the chicken math logic?
Bad news:
The two "unsure" hens (Alix - BSL & Heather - Blue And/PR) that I was doing the experiment with decided that sitting on eggs was not for them. They were pacing back and forth yesterday morning when I put them back in their crates after potty/eating break. Usually, Heather would sit back down on the eggs, but instead she started to squawk and continued for several minutes. Unfortunately, Heather had sat on the eggs long enough that I think they started to develop! I candled them, and a few of the yolks looked darker than normal. So, I broke open one of them, and the cells had started to divide and there was some red veins or something. This morning, Heather, went back to those crates and acted like she was looking for those eggs! But, I'd already removed them and brought them inside. Hopefully, she'll decide by hatch time if she wants to go broody or not.
Good news:
Daisy the EE & Lydia the PC are broody through and through. I even have to encourage them to get off the nest two times a day. I'll give them a few more days before letting them choose when to come out on their own. They're growling, hissing, fluffing up their feathers, turning the eggs, etc. So, I'm pretty sure the eggs under them are developing, so can they be added to my total count for the hatch-a-long? They were set on 3/9 around 3 pm.
Daisy has 11 eggs - an old pro - 3rd brood and not yet 2 years old
Lydia has 10 eggs - first time momma, but she has quite the broody stare!
So, 42 eggs in the incubator and 21 under broody hens = 63!
Craigslist here I come! I actually only NEED 10- 12 replacement layers for this year, but ...
Not all the eggs will develop, especially since it's my first incubator time, and it's the earliest I've hatched with broodies.
Plus, I'm preparing for all the roosters that will inevitably hatch, and I only want to keep the most colorful and unique hens.
So, when all is said and done, I should have just the right number, right? Is that the chicken math logic?
