Bit of a dilemma?

**MaureenHall** · 02-06-2009, 07:10 PM

errrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr dunno!

It might mean that you'd get chicks hatching over a longer period with the chance of some of the first hatched getting squashed between the other eggs. I think I'd wait and put them all under together - but someone with more experience will no doubt be around soon to give better advice

**davefromthechipie** · 02-06-2009, 08:22 PM

Originally posted by Snadger View Post

6 X Black Minorca eggs arrived this morning. Still waiting for 6 Double Laced Barnvelder eggs to arrive (hopefully tomorrow morning)

After resting for 24 hours Minorca eggs will be ready for slipping under broody tomorrow.

Do I wait another 24 hours and add all eggs to broody's clutch together or add Minorca eggs tomorrow and Barnvelder the day after (if they arrive tomorrow)

Kinda in the same boat snadger :/ the seller tells me they will be here tomorrow .the 1st lot come today and will be ready to incu tomorrow im going to do a 12 hour rest on the ones coming tomorrow then put all 24 in tomorrow night , I think waiting a day or 2 will be ok

**RichmondHens** · 03-06-2009, 06:41 AM

You must have a big broody to cover 12 eggs - Orpington?? I would wait until all eggs arrive and are ready (ie have stood 24 hrs), assuming by then that all will still be less than 7 days from being laid. You can stagger the setting/hatching by a day or two if you wish - the hen will continue to sit until all eggs that are going to hatch will - it's just that the first chicks off will start to want to be fed, but if you have a dish of crumb pushed up close to the hen she will be able to feed the first hatchlings without getting off the later ones. The choice is yours!

**Snadger** · 03-06-2009, 08:03 AM

Originally posted by RichmondHens View Post

You must have a big broody to cover 12 eggs - Orpington?? I would wait until all eggs arrive and are ready (ie have stood 24 hrs), assuming by then that all will still be less than 7 days from being laid. You can stagger the setting/hatching by a day or two if you wish - the hen will continue to sit until all eggs that are going to hatch will - it's just that the first chicks off will start to want to be fed, but if you have a dish of crumb pushed up close to the hen she will be able to feed the first hatchlings without getting off the later ones. The choice is yours!

Oooops! She's only an ISA brown hybrid!

(she is quite big though, probably because of all the treats she's had!)

Fellow across the way set a dozen hens eggs under a Bantam with good results so I thought it would be ok!

Must admit I never thought about whether she could cover them.
Ah well, we'll just have to wait and see!

**RichmondHens** · 03-06-2009, 09:47 AM

She MAY be able to cover them all, but ISA browns aren't big birds I grant you. I'm surprised your neighbour set 12 eggs under a bantam - my Light Sussex just don't seem to be able to cope with more than 4 or 5 large Welsummer eggs. When I tried them with more in the past I kept finding eggs pushed out into the cold and the birds straddling the rest looking decidely uncomfortable. Obviously they can manage more of their own. As you say, wait and see, you may be pleasantly surprised!

**chicken slave** · 03-06-2009, 01:14 PM

My Blackrock managed 12 and had them all lovely and snuggly until day 19 when the fox scared her and she totally refused to sit on them again and the inci was full

But never mind they were my eggs and didn't cost anything so nothing lost

**Snadger** · 04-06-2009, 09:59 AM

More dilemma's I'm afraid. Put six eggs under her yesterday but she had poo'ed in the nest something orrrible.
Have another six to go under her today but think I may have to clean her out first. A bit worried about taking her off the nest lest the eggs get cool and she won't return!
No time to wait for any constructive replies so I'll just have to blag it when I get to the allotment. Might take a cardboard box and stick her in there until I clean her out.

**RichmondHens** · 04-06-2009, 11:16 AM

The eggs will be fine for up to 30 mins without her - plenty of time for you to clean her out. If she makes habit of pooing in the nest then you'll have to lift her off each day to poo outside. If the eggs get poo on them, don't wash them, you could kill the embryo. Just give them a careful wipe on some damp grass or with a piece of kitchen roll to get the worst off.

**Snadger** · 04-06-2009, 07:30 PM

What a palaver!

Had everything ready...a sack of clean straw.......broody box 2 ready to put her in...extra 6 eggs ready.

Picked her up but she must have had two eggs under her wings which dropped on the floor and smashed........other chooks dived in to clean them up!

Got her in other box and then realised that her nest wasn't as bad as expected so just added other 6 eggs.
Luckily the eggs that smashed were just a couple of unfertilised eggs I had stuck under her to keep her sitting.
Handily the Minorca eggs are white and the Barnvelder are brown so will know what has hatched by colour of chick and egg.
Tried to get her out of other box but she was having none of it, flapping madly. Finished up grabbing her by the tail and bundling her back over her clutch.
Luckily she was straight back on them so I gave her a swede leaf which are the chooks favourite and she ate it. I also filled a yoghurt carton with water and put it within reach. She has pellets and water in the wired area but at least she had a drink and a bit of greenery.
Surprisingly she seems to cover the eggs quite easily? If she hasn't had any pellets by tomorrow I'll put a saucerfull next to her nest!

**RichmondHens** · 04-06-2009, 08:07 PM

I'm sure she'll be fine. Next time you lift her, slide your fingers under the wings first (one hand underneath each wing) and hold them lightly out horizontally to make sure nothing trapped underneath, then a quick swoop upwards and get hold of her legs firmly. Works for me every time. Another tip: feed her straight wheat while she's sitting - it firms up the poo so less risk of soiling the nest and provides heat/energy to go into brooding. She won't need pellets as she's not laying.

**Snadger** · 04-06-2009, 08:15 PM

Originally posted by RichmondHens View Post

.......................................................................... Another tip: feed her straight wheat while she's sitting - it firms up the poo so less risk of soiling the nest and provides heat/energy to go into brooding. She won't need pellets as she's not laying.

I have mixed corn..........will that do and be better than pellets?

Won't she need grit mixed with it?

**RichmondHens** · 05-06-2009, 06:55 AM

Mixed corn will be ok, and yes, add a bit of grit too (sorry forgot to say).

di · 05-06-2009, 07:05 AM

Good Luck Snadge...hope the next 21 days go smoothly!

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