[little bo peep]

Hi, My broody has been sitting on 6 eggs I checked them last about a week ago, then thought best to leave alone as she seemed to be coming out to poo, eat etc. but chicks are due in the next 12-24hrs so I had a peep and found all the eggs filthy and the nest very smelly just now, is it likely that this will have ruined our chances for hatching, shall I leave alone or clean up a bit? Arhh feeling gutted

[FiB]

I only have experience of  3 broody hatches... And they have all been filthy! I'm sure it is not ideal, but all have hatched fine. Fingers crossed.

[little bo peep]

Thank you, Just checked my calendar and they are due to hatch Sun night / Monday so a bit longer than I said but very close now so I'll have to wait and see I guess. The eggs were all cleaned before they went under, and were clean a week ago but she's made a mess the last few days. .

Thanks FiB, there is hope! That makes me feel better, we've only done it a few times too and my other broody is so clean. This one was given to me by a friend so she's and unknown, hope she has something to show for all her patience by Monday. 

[HesterF]

How is the bedding around them? I'd be tempted to put her and them onto clean bedding rather than worry about cleaning the eggs themselves. I don't clean eggs before setting them unless they're really filthy (never chickens - and rarely ducks because I can pick their clean ones - more commonly geese) because they have a protective barrier anyway that you destroy when cleaning them. But I would worry if she's hatching new chicks into a dirty environment. Are you sure she hasn't got mites or something? I had a broody infested with red mite last year & was busy trying to sort her literally as the chicks started hatching.

H

[chrismahon]

I agree with HesterF. Important the bedding is clean and you need to check the hen carefully for lice and mites. Leave the eggs dirty or perhaps a very gentle wipe over with warm water. Needs to be quick, as said the chicks will be setting themselves up to pip.

[little bo peep]

Thanks for all the advice, the eggs have started to hatch, two so far, but it is quite smelly and I am concerned about them in there so I was wondering if I should move her to my other broody coop on clean bedding and check her for pests as I do so, or would this disrupt things too much, I could do it this evening after dark or in the morning when perhaps more will have hatched.

[HesterF]

Personally I'd move her this evening if it's just a question of getting everything else set up and moving them across. You can move each egg and check the orientation before and after moving (i.e. same way up) and then move her across. She'll sit tight if she's made it this far. I'm a terrible fiddler with broodies and if they've sat tight, they stay true however many times I lift them off to check on progress!

H

[little bo peep]

Thanks everyone for the advice. I managed to get her onto clean bedding, I saw a couple of lice but she's certainly not infested badly so I've treated her anyway for everything.