Turkey hen left her eggs today just when they are about to hatch

[LocoPollo]

This morning I noticed my turkey hen was not on her nest. I felt the eggs and they were all cold. I have been waiting for a couple of days on her eggs to hatch and was really disappointed to find that she had apparently given up. I took all the eggs home and candled them, and found that two were rotten and starting to stink, and four were still good with one due to hatch anytime.

Why would she leave the nest and not just kick out the stinky eggs? Hopefully the good ones will still hatch in the incubator, but I am bummed that she didn't stick it out. Was it just the stinky eggs, or do hens do that from time to time?

 

[Catalina]

I hope your eggs hatch!

Sometimes broodies give up ~ usually at the worst possible moment!
Remember she has a tiny bird brain.

Good luck! Hope those eggs hatch!

 

[LocoPollo]

So far so good! One is just a wiggling away, he should be pipping anytime! I have them in the hatcher with my chicken eggs which are due to hatch on monday (day 19 today)

 

[Steve_of_sandspoultry]

Quote:
The reason she left the nest was the rotten eggs. They can smell them.

Steve in NC