Who ate the almost ready to hatch egg?

[AmyLynn2374]

Wow, that is very interesting. Thank you so much for correcting me! Now I know more! I agree about starting the life - that is why I said to replace the egg daily when he gathers them. Broody hens are funny.

Here's a link to where I quote the 80F development: http://chickscope.beckman.uiuc.edu/resources/egg_to_chick/procedures.html (I ment to add it with my original post.)

And here's the Cobb development chart that I use: I find it very useful.



And just for fun, this is part of one of my candling projects with one of my hatches:

 

[AmyLynn2374]

I've taken the last developing egg out from under Momma and put it in the incubator we just bought. Yesterday I noticed Momma walking around the yard because she had no eggs on the nest. Today she's back in there no doubt sitting on everyone's eggs again.

I *had* been removing everyone's eggs daily from her nest for just that reason. I had marked the 'original' eggs so I could tell the difference.

Speaking of 'fake eggs' and keeping Momma on the nest - I keep plastic Easter eggs in the nest to discourage egg eating. Momma hen had gathered up all the Easter eggs and everyone else's eggs and was sitting on quite a pile before I took them away

Putting the newly hatched chick back under her? Think it would work? I'd be afraid Momma would go all cannibal on the baby just like she had with the eggs. Especially since the eggs had a nearly developed chick in there.

Sure wish I knew why she was doing it....should I never let her go broody again?

Thank you so much for all your help!!

~Dawn

I tried easter eggs but they kept breaking them...lol I use golf balls now.

Rather she would take the chick back and not hurt it is

She might, but again she might not. I don't think I would do the "slipping under at night" trick that most suggest, because if she wakes up and decides the chick looks more like breakfast than family, it's a goner.

If you do decide to try I'd do it when you can watch and supervise the transition. Then if it looks like she's going to be aggressive you'll be there to rescue it.

Personally I wouldn't be keen to let a broody that wasn't a good momma hatch again, but she might be different the next time, you never know with broodies.

 

[howfunkyisurchicken]

If your other hens were laying in the nest she was brooding in, it is possible that they're the ones responsible for your missing eggs. I've watched some of my hens squeeze into the nest boxes with my broodies. Some slip in without incident, lay their eggs and pop out without so much as a peep. Others push themselves in when they're unwanted, which either results in the broody getting up or a fight breaks out. When squabbles happen, eggs get broken and then they'll clean them up so as not to attract predators or foul the nest. I leave my high order pecking hens in the nests with the flock, everyone leave those girls be. My lower order hens tend to get bullied out of their nests, so I move them to a cage within the coop to do their business in peace. Anyway, just a though.

Good luck with that last egg, I hope it hatches

 

[TheKindaFarmGal]

Quote:
I'll definitely check that out soon. Thanks!

 

[fmernyer]

That's interesting, too and makes perfect sense. I'll have to rearrange the nests in the coop. No matter what I put in there they only love one nest and its never been a problem without a rooster (and fertile eggs and broody hens). :/

That last egg has been in the incubator without a sound. Since I didn't mark it on the calendar from the beginning I calculate that its been 25 days since I marked the eggs.

Maybe momma hen knew something after all?

*sigh*

 

[SunHwaKwon]

Fmernyer should replace the fresh egg each day so it doesn't develop, though. Should've clarified that in my post.

That's what made me suggest it. I alternate leaving a brown or a white egg so I know I'm not accidentally leaving the same one behind.

 

[fmernyer]

I will keep that in mind - thank you!!