Trading eggs

[moff]

Hello...
My chicken is laying on her eggs !! However, they are unfertilized, due to the fact that we have no rooster ... My question is : Can I replace her eggs with fertile ones ?? And how is the best way to do that ??

 

[Cyprus]

You can definitely do that.
Take her unfertilized eggs and replace them with fertile eggs at night when it is dark.

 

[ChocolateMouse]

Yup, just as Cyprus said. After dark so she cant see, take the unfertile eggs and put in fertile ones. Also make sure the fertile eggs are marked in a distinct way so you can tell them apart from any other eggs layed in the same area. I just use a pencil on mine.

 

[moff]

Thank you !! The eggs i am trading out have been stored for a day at room temperature .. Do I need to warm them up ? maybe under a heat lamp first ??

 

[ChocolateMouse]

Nope! Just mark them and stick them under at night. Best to let the chicken's own body heat warm them up after you stick em under.
The purpose of doing it at night is the hen won't move (because it can't see) until morning, by which time the eggs will be warm and the broodieness will set in more effectively than if you did it during the day and just presented a bunch of cold unfamiliar eggs to the hen. Because you're right - they don't wanna set on strange, cold eggs much. But if they have the whole night to warm them up and get cozy on them then it matters not a bit.
So just keep the light levels VERY low while you do it, and it should be fine. No need to risk cooking part of the egg under a heat lamp or something.

 

[moff]

Wonderful ... Thank You !! I will give it a try tonight, And keep you posted on the progress !!!