To take the eggs, or not to take the eggs? That is the question.

[TattoedChickenLady]

I have 4 light brahma chickens that are a little over a year old now. 3 hens and Cluck Norris the rooster. They lay quite a few eggs few week and I have been told that they aren’t a very broody breed. I have a row of laying boxes and all but one are completely empty. Someone has made a nest in one of them. (See photos). She lays the eggs and sits for very little amounts of time. So how will I know to take them or not? Just leave a few and wait to see if she hatched them? Or just take them all until she sits for most of the day? I’m a chicken newb and this is my biggest question. I don’t want to take fertile eggs away!

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

If you have a rooster all eggs are fertile. If you wish to hatch it's best to collect the real eggs and replace them with fake eggs or golf balls. You can return eggs if you get a broody. Not all hens will go broody, most have had the instinct bred out.

Store unwashed eggs fat side up in a egg carton, at a 30 degrees incline, at 45-70 degrees, rotate the higher end daily. Best to use eggs that are less than 10 days old for incubating, so eat them after 10 days if you wish.

 

[lazy gardener]

There is no sense in leaving the eggs in the coop until you have a confirmed broody on your hands. Remove all the eggs every day, and enjoy them, sell the extras. Your nest boxes should be well lined with nesting materials, at least 2 - 4" of hay in each box. A hen is broody when she: spends 3 consecutive days AND NIGHTS in the box, only getting out for a brief period of time each day to eat, drink, poop and take a quick dust bath. She will flatten herself out like a pancake, and screech at you if you go near her nest. She will most likely strike at your hand if you try to reach into the nest. When she is off the nest, she will do a constant low pitched clucking.

 

[lazy gardener]

Chances are good that eggs will be fertile if there is a rooster. But having a rooster does not confirm that every egg will be fertile. You can check for fertility by looking for the telltale blastoderm when you crack your breakfast egg into the pan.

 

[TattoedChickenLady]

45-70 degrees in the incubator?

 

[lazy gardener]

No. Put the eggs somewhere in your house at that temp before incubating or giving them to a broody.

 

[TattoedChickenLady]

No. Put the eggs somewhere in your house at that temp before incubating or giving them to a broody.

Oh okay! Sorry. Haha

 

[bobbi-j]

45-70 degrees in the incubator?

I just leave mine in a carton on the counter.

 

[redranger209]

Make the nest boxes more comfy by putting bedding in em. That might encourage them to sit on the nest.

 

[TattoedChickenLady]

Make the nest boxes more comfy by putting bedding in em. That might encourage them to sit on the nest.

I thought it would, but anytime I put anything in there they kick every bit of it out. Lol