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Barnyard Buddies:  Hatching Question  |
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Love-in-a-Mist
True Blue Farmgirl
367 Posts
Shannon
Independence
Oregon
USA
367 Posts |
 Posted - Feb 18 2007 : 3:45:02 PM
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If none of my hens are acting broody, should I take the eggs away? We had ducks that would lay for a about a week or so, then finally start sitting on them. It's been a week and no one is showing any interest in sitting. Or will leaving them cause them to want to sit? I WANT BABIES! Thank you for any suggestions.
Farmgirl and mother of 2
http://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t290/dollieleah/horsepic.jpg |
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LadyCrystal
True Blue Farmgirl
593 Posts
Alicia
Rhode Island
USA
593 Posts |
Posted - Feb 18 2007 : 4:01:06 PM
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I would leave the eggs. It might encourage the hens to go broody. We incubate our eggs so we take them away daily to encourage more egg laying. Usually the hens needs a certain amount of daylight and warmth to encourage broodiness. Good Luck, We have hatched 100 chicks so far in the past couple of weeks. They are sooo cute.
Alicia
http://fromcitytocountrygirl.blogspot.com/
follow your dreams |
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babs
True Blue Farmgirl
226 Posts
Babette
MN
USA
226 Posts |
Posted - Feb 18 2007 : 5:01:39 PM
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Shannon..
It's not uncommon for hens to wait until there are 10 eggs (or more) to a nest. Not all of them will hatch obviously, but 5 eggs was never enough for mine to become broody.
If you want them to sit leave all the eggs, they'll get around to it. I had a phoenix last summer with 14 eggs and she hatched out 10 babies.
Babs
Hatching Eggs: www.countryegg.com
My Etsy Store: www.mugwortmaggies.com
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Bluewrenn
True Blue Farmgirl
1122 Posts
Erin
Texas
USA
1122 Posts |
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babs
True Blue Farmgirl
226 Posts
Babette
MN
USA
226 Posts |
Posted - Feb 19 2007 : 09:29:43 AM
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I don't know, maybe someone else has some better advice there (I'm responding in large part to bump this up). I haven't used wooden eggs myself, but I have been know to help the girls out by consolidating nests. This way I am out only one hen on one large nest rather than three on little ones. Sometimes they'll take the extra eggs and sit and sometimes they seem to think it was rude, like asking them to babysit step-children. I think it depends on the chicken. They all seem to have their own little personality that way. It doesn't hurt to try though. Good Luck. :)
Babs
Hatching Eggs: www.countryegg.com
My Etsy Store: www.mugwortmaggies.com
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Love-in-a-Mist
True Blue Farmgirl
367 Posts
Shannon
Independence
Oregon
USA
367 Posts |
Posted - Feb 19 2007 : 1:26:52 PM
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I could put some other eggs in there. I cant imagine what the poor mom would think though if they hatched out. She will have aracaunas, silkies, frizzles, polish all mixed together. I have a banty rooster from the humane society with the hens that I gather the eggs from. He kind of looks like an old english, but I have no idea what he is. I'm going to try it! We also eat the chickens so it won't be a big deal.
Farmgirl and mother of 2
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Barnyard Buddies: Hatching Question |
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Hatching Question
