[suziequeue]

We have had a little black silkie bantam sitting and sitting and sitting on some eggs and they are clearly not going to hatch. Don't know why - but they are well over now but she hasn't lost interest.


Any suggestions as to what I can do to get her out of it? or is it just the normal routine of removing eggs and nest bedding etc



During the "gestation" phase one egg was rejected from the next and it had a hole in it and the contents were empty. Looking at the other eggs in the clutch I can see bit of yolk on the other eggs and I wonder if the broken egg contaminated the other eggs.


Anyway - the long and the short of it is - that clutch is a goner but the bantam is still sitting tight.

[doganjo]

I'd take the eggs and next away from her and put netting or a box over the area so she can't get back.  Best to dispose of rotten eggs anyway.

[goosepimple]

yes, get her off, make sure she has a good drink, she'll be a bit run down - some bits of brown bread should help (wet them if she'll take it and it will get water down her), a knob of butter on them also would be appreciated and help to cheer her up.

[sh3ph3rd]

The broken egg could have contaminated the others but sometimes they can be covered in stuff and still grow and hatch. A rotten egg can also contaminate others though their shells even if it's not broken. Some egg bacteria can kill eggs that are close to hatching or even pipping, they're so virulent.

If you haven't kept a diary of gestation, are you sure they're too old? Sometimes time flies and dates get confused. Sucks to throw away almost-pipping eggs because the brooding date wasn't recorded and life got busier in other areas. Eggs can hatch over or under the 21 days expected. 

If you're sure the eggs are too old then she'd need to be stopped, generally by removing the eggs, but she may be the persistent sort who will sit an empty nest or just move on to the next lot. If you don't stop her and they're bad they will eventually explode under her and the rotten insides will make her ill when she tries to clean her feathers.

[Backinwellies]

My little black silkie  would not be pursuaded not to be broody .... ended up getting more fertile eggs ... which did hatch

[suziequeue]

Well - I'm very keen to get a clutch of cream legbars this year.


I'll give the whole hutch a good clean out and give her some fresh mealworms and brown bread and see how she goes.


She has been taking care of herself and going out each day to drink and feed and do a poo but her little bare breast is such a sorry sight.


I'm absolutely certain that we got the eggs on the early bank holiday Sunday - so that would be nearly four weeks now.

[Fleecewife]

Bad eggs will usually feel a bit rattly if you shake them gently by your ear - viable eggs feel nice and full with no movement of the contents.
 
If they are bad, make sure she doesn't sit on another clutch straight away as she needs time to rebuild her strength.

[in the hills]

Agree with FW. I would let her have a little rest and pick up condition.


You could try candling the eggs. If you haven't got the proper candling thing, then a strong torch in a dark box will do the trick.

[suziequeue]

Yeah - the eggs are definitely rattly.

Right - action stations....... buttered brown bread and mealworms.

UPDATE

Went in and took the nesting box away with the eggs in it. Broke all the eggs on the compost heap and none of them had even started to develop into anything - still just the yolks.

Poor little thing was ba-gerking away but suddenly it all went quiet - I think she's found the buttered bread and mealworms.

Bless her 

[HesterF]

Worth candling after a week next time - then you can move her on to fertile eggs more quickly if necessary. I've just posted on another thread because I had a broody who hatched chicks two weeks ago after sitting for about 50 days. She had fertile duck eggs under her that were fine up until hatch day and then died before pipping. She hadn't lost that much condition or weight so I got some chicken hatching eggs in for her instead. According to the vet, even if they're broody, they may not lose that much weight because laying normally takes so much out of them that it's actually easier just sitting there all day, not burning off that much energy or laying.

I just feed them lots of goodies, make sure they're wormed and although they lose some weight, it's nothing dramatic. Personally if she's still broody tomorrow, I'd give her a go with some Legbars.

H

[Fleecewife]

 
                   << Poor little thing was ba-gerking away >>
 
I love that - ba-gerking - describes that noise perfectly