I have a hen that i brought into the house to sit on her eggs, the bigger hens kept running her off her eggs and she would give up on them and find something else to sit on, so i brought her in and have her in a critter cage and put straw and eggs in a cardboard box. when she was in the coop she didnt poo on her eggs but now she is, i had to wash her eggs last night i was very carful had the water same temp as the eggs and didnt move them from the side she had them on ( i really hope i didnt hurt them) they should hatch 1-12-13. any advice on what to do she gets off the nest to eat and drink once a day. but is pottying in the nest. Please help.....
Put the food and water as far away from the nest as is possible. She needs to get off the eggs, walk around a bit, eat and drink, walk around a bit and then defecate. Very frequently hens who have feed provided right by the nest develop the bad habit of soiling and spoiling their eggs. They have to leave the nest site to poop.
Hy, I' am Mary from Belgium! Pleace do never wash eggs! There is some product on the eggs to protect them. Don't tuch them. The hen can stop taking care about her eggs and leave her nest. Perhaps is the nest to small. The hen normally is staying in a corner and moves her eggs when she has no space to poop! Marylin
