[jippers87]

Hi all

For a while now we have had two egg laying brown hens. We have just added a Plymoth barred rock rooster, a female adult Plymoth barred rock hen and a young female orpington and one young female plymoth.

The plan is to breed and the rooster has certainly been doing his part of the job. So we can assume that the majority, if not all, of eggs we get are fertilised, is that right? At the moment none of the hens are broody, but if one becomes broody can we put the eggs we had taken away for eating back under her? How long can you store them and under what conditions?

ANY info is MUCH appreciated!

[sam.t]

yes you can but the eggs back but dont store them more than 10 days in a COOL not cold place in a egg tray with one side propped up so on a tilt
sam

[jippers87]

Thanks Sam. What is the reason for having them on a tilt?

[melodrama]

Jippers,  I am really glad you asked this question because I was wondering the same thing and was confused.  Now I know!

[sam.t]

i honestley dont no just something i was told when i started sorry  lol
sam

[darkbrowneggs]

You tip the tray one side one day, then the next side the following day so the eggs are "rocked"  The reason for this is that the embryo is still growing, albeit slowly, and the egg contents are it's nutrients, by changing the position of the egg you allow the developing cell access to fresh nutrients.  As the chick develops it can move by itself and the "rocking" is not so necessary.  It you are storing the eggs for less than a week rocking or turning the eggs is considered unnecessary as the cell/embryo is so small

All the best
Sue

[Beewyched]

Hiya Sue 

Hope you don't mind me hopping onto this thread - but you 're probably the best person to answer this - we have 6 Cuckoo Marans, we bought them as day olds & are now about 13 weeks old.  Problem is we don't seem to be able to sex them - either that or they're all cockerals  .  Any foolproof way of knowing at this age?

[Buffy the eggs layer]

Hi

  In answer to your questions,

  If the pair of PRs that you are collecting eggs from are both sexually mature
 and
the hen is laying regularly and the cock is treading her with the same frequency
and
their diet contains the sufficient levels of protine
and
the eggs are stored correctly
then you could assume that the eggs are fertile.

There are lots of posts on this site about broody hens and hatchig so its worth searching through a few.

There can be many reasons why chicks fail to hatch from your eggs and lack of fertility is one of them but for that to become apparent would take at least two complete clutches to candle clear after day 10. In that event you could try giving a breeders ration and try again before concidering replacing your birds.

Buffy