What do you recommend?

[TommyVT05]

Hi Everyone,

I am new to this forum and so far, I love it!!! So many nice people here and it makes me feel very welcomed...

Just something I want to ask in this particular thread is...how long are eggs good for incubation after they are laid on the nest and just sits there?

I had people telling me it would last 30 days if in the right weather condition but I can't be too sure. The hen had laid 9 eggs already and still havn't gone broody yet. She's small too!!! Under 1.5 lbs (Bantam Phoenix)...

I took a few shots of her and her eggs and posted on my website @
www.animalsinthecity.webs.com

What promotes "Broodyness"?

 

[sara]

I believe eggs are good for about 14 days for incubation. Someone will correct that if I am wrong.

There really isn't anything you can do to make a hen go broody.

 

[WriterofWords]

I don't know,, I stole a couple of my Runner ducks eggs and started counting the day went into the bator,, but then they pipped about 8 days before the 28 days in the bator which means they were developing while in the nest! So now I'm watching her and when I grab and egg or even leave it in the nest I'm penciling in a date on it as to when it was laid!

 

[silkiechicken]

There is no way to make a hen go broody, and most will not set right after they have begun laying. In additoin, it is always best to wait a month or two into laying before setting a particular pullet's eggs, to ensure she has the system right and to let the eggs get larger to carry more nutrients for the developing chick.

For best hatchability, it is best to store eggs for less than 10 days, although, it is possible to get a chick out of a month old egg. It is just the probability of a hatch decreases over time.

I say collect up those eggs and make an omlet since broodies will start to set on air when the mood strikes them right.

If you chose to incubate yourself, you start counting days the day you put them in the bator, not after they were laid.

WriterofWords
I bet that runner was incubating the eggs when you weren't looking! To make sure she's not hiding eggs in a different nest, when you go steal them, put a few fake ones down since she can't count anyways! Penciling in the date is a good idea.

 

[WriterofWords]

Quote:
I'm going to try that thank you! I never saw her sit on those eggs, but she had to have!!! Sneaky Runner Ducks!!

 

[TommyVT05]

Right on...Thank U

 

[TommyVT05]

I found an egg today and it has this clear "GOO" on it. Its just laid because I can feel the warmth, but anybody know what the "GOO" is?

 

[speckledhen]

That's called the bloom. It's a coating that dries on the egg to help create a barrier against bacteria.

 

[TommyVT05]

Ohh...I see. By the way, some of the eggs in the nest have like "Sand" on it...how could that be when the nest is 2 feet off the ground and the nesting material is absolutely clean?