The 6th Annual BYC Easter Hatch-a-long!

[acemario]

Man! Busy busy busy! I can't imagine how quick this will go in a few weeks!

Question! How long can a broody hen sit on an egg before it is inedible?
I have a broody hen who jumps on any egg in the nest boxes. I can't collect until around 7 when I'm off of work. Are these eggs still ok to refrigerate and eat?

 

[jessicaagross]

I am pretty nervous about this batch of eggs because I really want these to hatch and be healthy. This is actually only the second time I have ever tried to incubate eggs. I had the first time. They all came from the same breeder. In the first batch only 1 pipped but never zipped. I debated on whether or not I was supposed to help it but it died before I got it out. 4 more died fully developed but never pipped. The rest never developed or not very much. The breeder says she gets about 10 out of 12 on most batches. I have read some more and changed to a dry incubation method because we came to the conclusion with the breeder that I had the humidity entirely too high. I'm using a fairly old Hovabator that I got second hand but it holds the temperature surprisingly steady. I want to build an incubator but haven't had time to do anything except read up on it and design one that I think would suit me. I am hoping for the best!

Well I'm sure you'll have more success this time around! And so far everyone on this thread has been really helpful, so you'll have a bunch of support! This is my first time with a new incubator and first in a few years! Last time I hatched was about 10 years ago, but I'm very excited to get back into it! Did your eggs come through the mail or from a local breeder?

 

[Jessshan8]

Man! Busy busy busy! I can't imagine how quick this will go in a few weeks!

Question! How long can a broody hen sit on an egg before it is inedible?
I have a broody hen who jumps on any egg in the nest boxes. I can't collect until around 7 when I'm off of work. Are these eggs still ok to refrigerate and eat?

Perfectly fine to collect, refridgerate, and eat! The egg has to be up to incubation temp for some time for it to start to develope. Not to worry you wont open one to fine a little one in an egg that was left for you that day. I would feel safe in saying it would be fine if left for a day or two in the nest box. if she is jumping around on different nests she would not be on one long enoughh for any to start to develope.

 

[NotAFarm]

Quote: The turkey is a first time broody although she has tried twice in the past two months and I thought I had got it out of her system as she was laying again until yesterday.
The eggs are turkey eggs. I have 10 turkey eggs in the incubator. They would be due to hatch on the 25th. I don't know if she could hatch all of them or not but it would be one less lockdown my newer set eggs have to go through.
I would give her some fake eggs in a nest that you want her to sit in. If she stays, I'd take the "started" eggs out and give them to her at night. Since you are already incubating, if she quits for some reason, you could put the eggs back in the incubator. Seems like it would be worth giving her a try.

 

[chicken pickin]

Perfectly fine to collect, refridgerate, and eat! The egg has to be up to incubation temp for some time for it to start to develope. Not to worry you wont open one to fine a little one in an egg that was left for you that day.

X2 I collect and refrigerated for eating.

 

[jessicaagross]

Man! Busy busy busy! I can't imagine how quick this will go in a few weeks!

Question! How long can a broody hen sit on an egg before it is inedible?
I have a broody hen who jumps on any egg in the nest boxes. I can't collect until around 7 when I'm off of work. Are these eggs still ok to refrigerate and eat?

I have still eaten eggs that have been under a broody for 2 days. Don't know if anyone else would want to, but I didn't notice any difference, still tasted fresh. I know eggs just sitting at room temp on the counter are good for about 3-4 months and 6 months in the fridge. I think it could probably sit under her for a few days before you would notice anything growing, that's the only thing that would creep me out, if it looked like it was growing a baby chick.

 

[Jessshan8]

Quote: The turkey is a first time broody although she has tried twice in the past two months and I thought I had got it out of her system as she was laying again until yesterday.
The eggs are turkey eggs. I have 10 turkey eggs in the incubator. They would be due to hatch on the 25th. I don't know if she could hatch all of them or not but it would be one less lockdown my newer set eggs have to go through.
I would give her some fake eggs in a nest that you want her to sit in. If she stays, I'd take the "started" eggs out and give them to her at night. Since you are already incubating, if she quits for some reason, you could put the eggs back in the incubator. Seems like it would be worth giving her a try.
I would seperate her to her own pen if you want her to set eggs. The other turkey hens will disturb her and push her off the nest to lay their own if you have more than one hen.

 

[Jessshan8]

has anyone given a broody started eggs to hatch?

I have a turey who is broody and I'm thinking of giving her eggs that are in my incubator. Then also how long do I need to let her raise the chicks before taking the chicks in hopes of getting more turkey eggs?

You could take them at anywhere from a day to a week and put them in a brooder. she will walk around calling for them for a day or two then forget she ever had any. Then will start to lay again in a week or two.

 

[bekkanblue]

They don't count for the HAL but I caved and put goose eggs in a bator. I'm surprised how many actually fit in a Mini! Will move to something bigger if they develop! We'll see what happens. More of a fertility check/can't stand not to type of thing but will be fun to candle in a week!

 

[FrenchToast]

Okay, I got some pictures of my eggs. These first three are all different eggs. You can see how they just ...... don't look good.

This is a picture of what the four that may still be okay look like.

Input, please?

do you mean these are the four that might be ok but you still have concerns of the first 3 because of the dark mass? Looks like some veining on them but could be smear lines on the outside shells?