Which eggs should I let my broody hatch?

[LaurenRitz]

One of my pullets has gone broody. I have a rooster and all the eggs I have cracked were fertile with only one exception, and that was a double-yolk.

Is there any way to decide which eggs are most likely to hatch? Which eggs should I give her? Is there any criteria for the choice?

 

[rosemarythyme]

Obviously avoid any eggs that are unusual - too small (like new pullet eggs), too big (double yolkers), weird shape or anything like that. Otherwise I guess you can choose them by which hen laid them, assuming you can match eggs to hen, as you'd want to increase the odds of more desirable traits being passed on, such as good egg laying, good personality, feather coloration, etc.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Basically what Rosemarythyme said. Normal eggs of the size they normally lay. Avoid dirty or cracked eggs. Some people candle to avoid eggs with high porosity but I don't. I just don't have many that are that porous. It is best to not wash them or remove the bloom.

 

[LaFleche]

Fresh eggs (up to 10 days) would be best and they should all be set at the same time to avoid a staggered hatch.

Good luck!

 

[aart]

Mark the eggs that you choose to give her, then daily remove any that other birds may lay in her nest.
I like to separate broodies from the flock with a temporary wire wall in the coop.


You'll need to decide if you want her to hatch out some chicks, and how you will 'manage' it.

Do you have, or can you get, some fertile eggs?

Do you have the space needed? Both for more chickens and she may need to be separated by wire from the rest of the flock.

Do you have a plan on what to do with the inevitable males? Rehome, butcher, keep in separate 'bachelor pad'?

If you decide to let her hatch out some fertile eggs, this is a great thread for reference and to ask questions.

It's a long one but just start reading the first few pages, then browse thru some more at random. https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/broody-hen-thread.496101/

 

[LaurenRitz]

I pulled all of one egg (I'm still not sure who is laying what) which included one egg from the refrigerator, about a week old.

To get a baseline I candled the eggs. They all looked beautiful, except the one from the refrigerator had odd mottling in the shell.

I have attached pictures of two different eggs so you can see the difference. Should I discard that one egg?

 

[Ridgerunner]

I would. It looks like excess porosity to me.