Three chicks due June 8, Portland, Oregon

[Xtina]

I have a broody hen and I thought it would be a neat experiment to find some fertilized eggs and put them under her. I got the eggs from a local garden store, from a nice employee who just gave them to me for free! If all goes according to plan, the chicks will be hatched on June 8. Since I only wanted to do this to give my broody girl some gratification, I probably won't be keeping any of the chicks, so if anyone wants one, speak up! I'm supposed to get a Sicilian Buttercup, a Turken, and a Delaware. The Delaware breed sounds really interesting so if I get a mind to keep one, it'll probably be that one.

 

[NancyP]

You should have no problem finding a home for them. Hope your broody does a good job. Please post pics when they hatch.

Nancy

 

[Xtina]

Will do!

 

[Xtina]

Ok, there's some interesting and crazy stuff going on with this hen. First of all, she somehow is collecting everyone's eggs, even though I never see her leave her box and there's no way she can roll the eggs from one box into the one she's brooding in. That's not too big of a mystery, since I can think of several ways it's happening, but it's an annoyance.

Second, she's breaking eggs. I reached under her today after my roommate found a broken egg in there yesterday (complete with partial fetus) and I also found tons of broken shell and yolk. I now have no idea what eggs are viable under her and what eggs are my normal unfertilized ones.

So, does anyone have any advice? At this point, should I somehow try to break her of brooding? Should I just take out any non-viable eggs and let her continue sitting on the ones I assume are the two fertilized eggs left? Anything else I should or shouldn't do?