The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Poultry & Waterfowl => Topic started by: Farmboss64 on June 06, 2021, 12:06:35 am

Title: Broody hens eggs are at different stages in hatching
Post by: Farmboss64 on June 06, 2021, 12:06:35 am
Will my hen stay on her nest if the eggs are a couple weeks behind each other 
Title: Re: Broody hens eggs are at different stages in hatching
Post by: Fleecewife on June 06, 2021, 12:28:48 am
No.  She has to teach her new brood to feed which she can't do when she's hatching more eggs. Do you have another broody you can transfer the unhatched eggs to? Or an incubator?
Title: Re: Broody hens eggs are at different stages in hatching
Post by: Farmboss64 on June 06, 2021, 03:46:07 am
I have a couple more but I don’t think the eggs will fit under them as they are already laying on a lot of eggs
Title: Re: Broody hens eggs are at different stages in hatching
Post by: Perris on June 06, 2021, 05:46:20 am
maybe investing in an incubator would be a good idea if you want to hatch lots of eggs
Title: Re: Broody hens eggs are at different stages in hatching
Post by: Richmond on June 06, 2021, 09:28:49 pm
Hope you have a plan for all the cockerels .........

Intrigued as to why all the eggs are at different stages. I'm presuming you have allowed other hens access to the nests that the broodies are on so all the eggs are getting mixed up, ie freshly laid and part incubated. Best to separate broodies from other hens as soon as they start sitting so all the eggs start off at the same time.
Title: Re: Broody hens eggs are at different stages in hatching
Post by: Farmboss64 on June 07, 2021, 11:15:22 pm
[member=206414]Richmond[/member] I actually did separate them who wouldn’t and all the eggs did hatch so thanks for your comment   (moderated)
Title: Re: Broody hens eggs are at different stages in hatching
Post by: Richmond on June 08, 2021, 09:00:32 am
Your first question clearly stated there were eggs a couple of weeks behind the others which would suggest another hen had been laying into the nest as well. Once hens go broody they stop laying so any eggs further behind in development would have to have been laid by another hen.

I was only trying to help, and actually saw your original comment before it was modified (thanks backinwellies) which I thought was a little rude and uncalled for.

I'm glad you had a successful hatch.