The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Poultry & Waterfowl => Topic started by: bumpkins on March 10, 2016, 09:05:29 pm
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Hi - We have decided to let Ruby our perpetually broody Wyandotte Bantam sit on some hatching eggs. We had to get them from elsewhere as we don't currently have a cockerel. They are 'resting' for a day before we exchange the 3 dummy eggs that she is currently very fond of for the hatching eggs. The thing is - what is the best way to change them over? Should we slightly warm them before they go under her? We have 6 - will she notice that there are more? It's not going to be easy as she is very protective of her pretend eggs. Does anyone have any advice on the best way to do this? Thanks.
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I'd slip them under her and remove the others one at a time at around dusk. She may be disturbed enough to come off the nest to eat, drink and poop but will likely go straight back to the nest afterwards. Just leave her alone to get on with it. Soe folks lift the hens off the nest every day to get them to eat and drink but they'll generally do it themselves when it's quiet and no-one's around. It's hardly in Mother Nature's best interests to have the broody die before hatching takes place.
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Thank you for that MF. Do you think that it will make any difference because they will be cold? - well..room temp anyway. :)
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Temperature will be fine, definitely don't heat them up.
If you leave them in front of her during the day she'll probably take them anyway (I have yet to have a broody ignore nearby eggs) though do this only if you know which the old ones are to take away at a later date, otherwise indeed swap them in the dark and at room temperature if you'd rather not disturb her.
Having more eggs won't be a problem, she'll be pleased. :D
So chicks in 3 weeks, hey? Exciting! :)
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Yes it is exciting! :excited: which is why we wanted to give it our best shot. Ruby will try to hatch anything..including stones, table tennis balls etc so I guess that a few extra eggs, cold or not, will be a bonus for her. Thanks!