The Poultry Keeper

Sue B · Joined: 18 Oct 2005 Posts: 383 Location: Lincolnshire

Hi everyone
My broody has been sitting on three ebay eggs for 21 days today ( she broke the other three!!). Now call me a tad impatient Smile

but how critical is the number 21. I had a look at the eggs when she went off for her morning constitutional and there was no sign of activity. How long should I wait before I give up on them Crying or Very sad

CP · Posted: Wed May 03, 2006 6:27 pm Post subject:

Mojo always says wait till day 25. Wink

Did you let them rest for 24 hours after you received them in the post before putting them under her?

Have you candled them at all?

Don't give up hope yet. Wink

Sue B · Joined: 18 Oct 2005 Posts: 383 Location: Lincolnshire

OOOOOps no, I didn't let them rest I didn't know about that Embarassed

Is that really important?

The eggs are really dark Maran eggs so I didn't try candling.

debcat · Posted: Wed May 03, 2006 6:42 pm Post subject:

marans do tend to take longer than other breeds
give them till day 25

CP · Posted: Wed May 03, 2006 6:43 pm Post subject:

We didn't know either with the first eggs we got from eBay, but we still had 1 hatch so there is hope!
AFAIK you're supposed to let them settle after the bumpy journey through the postal system so the air sack is in the right place. Though if they're chucked about too much they get addled & are no good at all.

Maran eggs are hard to candle as they are so dark, but we've never had much luck in identifying much in normal eggs, except when they are totally clear (infertile)

Let's know how you get on. Wink

mojo · Posted: Wed May 03, 2006 6:59 pm Post subject:

i cant candle eggs to save my life........but and its a BIG but never ever throw eggs away till hey have had 25 yes 25 whole days and nights .............the record(unless you know better) is 29 days incubation for a black La Fleche in Australia( i read it somewhere ages ago)....some convict raised it i think ask aussie chick .....seriously dont Rush the processto much and keep us informed please

alexa · Joined: 14 Apr 2005 Posts: 336 Location: wiltshire

okay a question for you all, but why do people let them settle before they go under a hen?? because i know from watching a broody that when you put the eggs under her she moves them around lots and put them where she wants them! so if they get moved anyway why let them settle?

sorry im probably sound really stupid and i dont tend to buy via post anyway but ive always wondered!

lex Very Happy

alexa · Joined: 14 Apr 2005 Posts: 336 Location: wiltshire

p.s
i could never candle eggs either, but this link was given to me and was mega helpful, although i think u may still struggle with dark eggs!
using a torch cut a piece of cardboard to fit the end of the egg into as for some reason u can see better into the egg with the egg in the cardboard at one end!!

http://www.homestead.com/shilala/candling.html

Sue B · Joined: 18 Oct 2005 Posts: 383 Location: Lincolnshire

Hi ...That link is really good. I must admit I'm not too hopeful of any chicks ( end of day 22), especially since one of the eggs looked a bit wet and sticky today, not a good sign according to the candling link Sad

mojo · Posted: Thu May 04, 2006 10:23 pm Post subject:

settling eggs before starting incubation lets the air sac rejoin if its been divided into bubbles.bit like a thermometer mercury line needs to be in one piece to work...hope that helps

alexa · Joined: 14 Apr 2005 Posts: 336 Location: wiltshire

oh that does help!
thanks mojo!

lex Very Happy

mojo · Posted: Thu May 04, 2006 10:30 pm Post subject:

dont forget there are NO silly questions only silly answers so do ask

Sue B · Joined: 18 Oct 2005 Posts: 383 Location: Lincolnshire

Hi just to let you know my ebayers did not hatch. So Having been thoroughly depressed about it I'm ready to try again. I'm trying to encourage my other light Sussex to go broody with some nice hardboiled eggs. Shes not too bothered at the moment but I'm ever hopeful. I think I'll give ebay a miss this time and see if I can find anything local that I could collect.

Issy · Joined: 22 Nov 2005 Posts: 371 Location: somerset

Sorry to hear about the eggs. Better luck next time.

mojo · Posted: Tue May 09, 2006 3:13 pm Post subject:

Dont waste hard boiled eggs on a broody buy plastic eggs or use dirty golf balls<somehow they dont seem to like very white ones>and if you can insulate a box warm NOT hot chickens become broody quicker