The Poultry Keeper

chickadee66 · Joined: 29 Jun 2008 Posts: 23

Hi! This may be a silly question but I haven't had chickens before. Two weeks ago I rescued a warren hen and a cockerel they were only together for a day. My Hen has not layed any eggs until today, we have 3 eggs =). Is there any chance that the eggs may be fertile as its her first eggs since the cockerel? And if they are infertile is it ok to remove them from the nest even though she likes sitting on them?

NannyP · Posted: Sun Jun 29, 2008 3:49 pm Post subject:

No question is silly, if you don't know the answer Very Happy

If your hen hasn't been with a cockerel until a few days ago, it is unlikely the eggs are fertile. If she was with a cockerel where she lived before, her eggs could be fertile.

Yes, remove them from the nest, fertile or not....unless you want her to hatch them?

Hens can go broody, and will not like it if you remove them, and the eggs from the nest. If you don't want baby chicks, then you must stop your hen from being broody. To do this, she needs to be removed from the nice, cosy nest (use gloves incase she tries to peck you) and place her in a cage, or lock her out of the coop, in a secure run for 3 days until she has been "broken" from her broodiness. She needs to be cooled, which is why taking her off and keeping her off the nest is important.

chickadee66 · Joined: 29 Jun 2008 Posts: 23

Thanks for you're reply NannyP! =) I didn't think that they would be after 2 weeks without seeing a cockerel but I wanted to make sure. Will remove the eggs now I know they probably won't be fertile - thanks again!

mojo · Posted: Sun Jun 29, 2008 8:11 pm Post subject:

but they will taste nice