We've had a broody hen setting on some eggs (7 of them) for a couple weeks now. She is a red sex link, very protective. This is our first broody hen who's attempted to hatch and I have some very specific questions and a couple concerns.
Until two days ago, I had never seen her get off her eggs. Not once. Then she was off two days ago for over an hour before getting back on, but it was extremely hot out so I thought it was alright. Today she was out for another hour, and now is out again, going back in to sit on them every time I attempt to go in to candle the eggs (grrr!).
We have three roosters, and the eggs are most certainly fertilized... trust me! We initially didn't want any hens to hatch because the last time we had incubated eggs, we had the following turnout: we had ordered 36 hatching eggs. 14 of them hatched, 2 of which died almost immediately. 6 of the remaining 12 were roosters. Yikes!
However, this hen in particular has lived a hard life so far! She was the only survivor of a fire that burned down the entire coup and the 11 other hens in her flock at another backyard farm over the winter, and has the burned feathers even now to prove it. Hoping she's a good mommy.
I have a couple of concerns, though.
1.) One of the eggs is cracked. Am I right to assume that it is no longer viable, despite it being a thin (but long) crack that hasn't broke the membrane?
2.) She is extremely thin and acting oddly when off the eggs. Constantly grooming herself, running around in circles, then randomly turning to continue grooming herself before running back to her eggs, clucking and screeching (I think that part is normal!). I know chickens are fully capable of hatching their eggs and do so by their own instinct and hormones, but is she alright? Is it normal? I can't touch her since she's got a big temper.
3.) Are the eggs alright when she's off them for quite awhile? She only seems to get off them when it's extremely hot and/or humid.
4.) Should I try and candle the eggs, assuming I get a chance? I'm thinking they'll hatch this coming week or weekend, the latest. I haven't been able to candle them yet because she wasn't off the eggs for the first two weeks that I saw.
5.) I have heard that some broody hens will 'quit' sitting on them. How do I know if she;'s taking a very long break versus her quitting? I don't want to jump to conclusions and take the eggs into the incubator when she's merely taking her time, but don't want the potential chicks to die inside the eggs.
6.) We have two coops: one has no separation. The second is a camper-converted-coop, and there is a door separating one side from the other. The problem is, we have some 12 week old hens in that 'separated' area, because our black sex links are nasty hens and will come running from all the way across the yard to attack them. We were going to move her into there and allow the 12 hens to join the flock, but are worried for their safety as well as hers. What would be your suggestion? So far she is not being bothered by other hens since she's particularly vicious when they get to close to her eggs.
Any advice would be appreciated!
Until two days ago, I had never seen her get off her eggs. Not once. Then she was off two days ago for over an hour before getting back on, but it was extremely hot out so I thought it was alright. Today she was out for another hour, and now is out again, going back in to sit on them every time I attempt to go in to candle the eggs (grrr!).
We have three roosters, and the eggs are most certainly fertilized... trust me! We initially didn't want any hens to hatch because the last time we had incubated eggs, we had the following turnout: we had ordered 36 hatching eggs. 14 of them hatched, 2 of which died almost immediately. 6 of the remaining 12 were roosters. Yikes!
However, this hen in particular has lived a hard life so far! She was the only survivor of a fire that burned down the entire coup and the 11 other hens in her flock at another backyard farm over the winter, and has the burned feathers even now to prove it. Hoping she's a good mommy.
I have a couple of concerns, though.
1.) One of the eggs is cracked. Am I right to assume that it is no longer viable, despite it being a thin (but long) crack that hasn't broke the membrane?
2.) She is extremely thin and acting oddly when off the eggs. Constantly grooming herself, running around in circles, then randomly turning to continue grooming herself before running back to her eggs, clucking and screeching (I think that part is normal!). I know chickens are fully capable of hatching their eggs and do so by their own instinct and hormones, but is she alright? Is it normal? I can't touch her since she's got a big temper.
3.) Are the eggs alright when she's off them for quite awhile? She only seems to get off them when it's extremely hot and/or humid.
4.) Should I try and candle the eggs, assuming I get a chance? I'm thinking they'll hatch this coming week or weekend, the latest. I haven't been able to candle them yet because she wasn't off the eggs for the first two weeks that I saw.
5.) I have heard that some broody hens will 'quit' sitting on them. How do I know if she;'s taking a very long break versus her quitting? I don't want to jump to conclusions and take the eggs into the incubator when she's merely taking her time, but don't want the potential chicks to die inside the eggs.
6.) We have two coops: one has no separation. The second is a camper-converted-coop, and there is a door separating one side from the other. The problem is, we have some 12 week old hens in that 'separated' area, because our black sex links are nasty hens and will come running from all the way across the yard to attack them. We were going to move her into there and allow the 12 hens to join the flock, but are worried for their safety as well as hers. What would be your suggestion? So far she is not being bothered by other hens since she's particularly vicious when they get to close to her eggs.
Any advice would be appreciated!
