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Barnyard Buddies:  Broody darlin' hen  |
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farmmilkmama
True Blue Farmgirl
2027 Posts
Amy
Central MN
USA
2027 Posts |
 Posted - Jun 20 2010 : 12:10:57 PM
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So...we have hatched out a lot of chicks in incubators. We were done for the year. So it would figure that one of our hens (the meanest flightiest one) decides she's going to sit on a nest. Its very interesting because since she's been on the nest, she's actually NICE. She's so sweet and calm and you can pet her and move her around and everything. She talks to you and its all so funny to me.
Anyhow we decided we would let her sit on the nest because, hey...why not? She started with two eggs, now she has 8 eggs underneath her. Today we saw another hen on top of her, trying to lay an egg in her same box. We also know that when Isabella (the broody hen) goes out to eat for a few minutes, a couple other hens are hopping in there.
Here's my question, because I never learned about the "natural" way to do things, I was always so into incubating - If more eggs keep appearing, should I be taking those? We don't want her sitting on 40 eggs. I went in and marked the 8 that are in there already so I will know if there are more. Also, if I take out the additional eggs, do I have to toss them or can we eat them? I mean, if someone adds and egg and she sits on it for 12 hours before we go out to take it, do we toss it?
Also, if and when they start hatching (which would start next week) how does that work with the timing? If the first two hatch (hers and someone else's laid the same day)...then do eggs continue to keep hatching as they reach their day 21? What if they were laid a week apart? Is it possible that Isabella could be sitting with chicks and still hatching over the course of a week?
Should I go in and candle them and just leave her what looks like its growing at this point? We didn't really want a ton more chicks, but it would also be neat to see a mama hen do her thing instead of relying on technology...I mean, assuming she hatches them out.
--* FarmMilkMama *--
Farmgirl Sister #1086
Be yourself.
Everyone else is already taken.
-Oscar Wilde
www.wakeupstartlearning.blogspot.com
www.farmfoodmama.blogspot.com |
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kristin sherrill
True Blue Farmgirl
11303 Posts
kristin
chickamauga
ga
USA
11303 Posts |
Posted - Jun 20 2010 : 1:16:58 PM
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Amy, I had 7 hens go broody and hatched a total of 16 chicks. I am down to 10 now. Anyway, since you've alredy marked the 8 original eggs, you should take the extra out as you find them. I would check every day. And yes, they are still good. Just stick them in the fridge. 8 is plenty of eggs under one hen. And chances are they will not all hatch. And she will hatch a few one day then in the course of several more days more chicks will hatch. If after a week there are still eggs under her pick them up and shake them gently. If they sound like water in them they are rotten. Through them as far away as possible! They will stink up a place in now time. Nasty! Good luck and let us know when it happens. I love little chicks following their momma around. So cute.
Oh, and I will take scratch and grind it up in a coffee grinder and give to them for a few weeks. The momma will do a great job feeding them but they could use a little extra. And this way they will get used to you. And keep a little dish of water so the little ones can drink.
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
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msdoolittle
True Blue Farmgirl
1152 Posts
Amanda
East Texas
USA
1152 Posts |
Posted - Jun 21 2010 : 07:04:21 AM
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I had a hen go broody, too. You will need to remove any new eggs, for sure, and they are fine to eat. I personally check the nests twice a day, so that any new eggs are not incubated for any longer than a few hours.
As far as the other eggs besides the original 2, it will depend on the time difference. If some eggs are a week behind the first eggs, she will leave the nest typically after the first born chicks are hatched. I would just wait and see. When she leaves the nest with her new born chicks, she won't incubate the remaining eggs, so...you can either put them in your 'bator or, well, chunk them. I would think that the hen would stay on the eggs at least a day or two after the first batch hatches.
I put some starter crumbles and water by the mama hen and the chicks and she quickly taught them to eat. Good luck!
FarmGirl #1390
www.mylittlecountry.wordpress.com |
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willowtreecreek
True Blue Farmgirl
4813 Posts
Julie
Russell
AR
USA
4813 Posts |
Posted - Jun 21 2010 : 2:02:41 PM
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Mark the eggs she has with a pencil and take away any new eggs. Once the eggs start to hatch she may abandon the others if they do not all hatch within a few hours of eachother. You may want to be prepared to incubate a few for the last few days if she gets off them too early.
Farmgirl Sister #17
Blog
www.eggsandherbs.com
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Barnyard Buddies: Broody darlin' hen |
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Broody darlin' hen
