What if you don't feel the eggs warm enough under a broody hen?

[M Shoaib]

I don't know much about it but I feel kind of confused cause the eggs I placed under the hen don't seem warm enough by touching. I wash my hands before touching. I touched just for the temperature purpose. But now I am worried about it.

 

[PirateGirl]

If she is on the nest 23 hours a day, they should be fine. By about day 6 you can pull out an egg at a time and candle them. Any developing eggs will be obvious by this point.

 

[M Shoaib]

If she is on the nest 23 hours a day, they should be fine. By about day 6 you can pull out an egg at a time and candle them. Any developing eggs will be obvious by this point.

I am kind of new to the Candling process. Can you please elaborate on this? I mean to say candle heat won't effect the egg?

 

[PirateGirl]

Perhaps browse through the incubating/hatching section of the learning center here:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/categories/hatching-eggs-raising-chickens.22/
A flashlight does not produce much heat (not any more than your broody hen) and you only shine it into an egg for a few seconds to candle it and it will not harm development.

 

[igorsMistress]

The temperature difference between your body and that of an incubating egg is very small, a degree or two, so it may not seem warm enough but it is. Broody hens will usually push quitters or infertile eggs out of the nest. Not always, but usually.

Here's a handy candling guide that will show you what to expect to see at each day of development
https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...ion-through-incubation-of-chicken-eggs.47879/