The Poultry Keeper

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

Not sure what I should do here any advice would be welcome Very Happy

I've currently got two broodies each sitting on eggs 10 under one and 5 under the other. Eggs are due to hatch at roughly the same time. the broodies are each on their own. We are at day 8. Should I:

A) Leave things as they are...

B) Put all the eggs under one hen ( they wont all hatch as there ebayers!!)

C) Leave alone but put together after hatch.

D) Leave alone and put together when chicks are bigger.

E) Something else?????????????????

Sorry that this question looks like an O level (thats how old I am!) multiple choice. Very Happy

ashley.crowther · Joined: 10 Sep 2006 Posts: 367 Location: Shropshire, UK

I would leave them as they are and maybe put them together after they are hatched...

chickens rock your sox · Joined: 22 Jun 2008 Posts: 131 Location: Kildare-Ireland

Yeah thats what I'd do aswell!!!

Kitsune · Joined: 13 Mar 2008 Posts: 1406 Location: Manchester

if you put them together after they are hatched the hen who had chicks taken will probably have bonded and got to know their cheeps - they may also have got to know her call and if she calls for them they could die trying to get to her - I had this happen with some bantams I had years ago - very sad..

I would move them now if you definitely want to move them, maybe candle as you go to take out any duds - or just leave them with the chicks they have

chickens rock your sox · Joined: 22 Jun 2008 Posts: 131 Location: Kildare-Ireland

I have a Brahma rearing 19 chicks at the moment, they are nearly a month old. 4 of these chicks were what we hatched the rest we bought about a week later she reared them all brilliantly!!!

But this probably isn't always the case!!!Not to sound like I'm contradicting you or anythin'!!!!

mojo · Posted: Mon Jun 23, 2008 8:21 pm Post subject:

chickens rock your sox · Joined: 22 Jun 2008 Posts: 131 Location: Kildare-Ireland

uuuuuh......what?! Confused

mojo · Posted: Mon Jun 23, 2008 8:28 pm Post subject:

LEAVE WELL ALONE ........option A

chickens rock your sox · Joined: 22 Jun 2008 Posts: 131 Location: Kildare-Ireland

oh sorry I thought you were talkin' to me!!! Embarassed

CP · Posted: Mon Jun 23, 2008 9:54 pm Post subject:

Just one question Sue - why are you thinking about moving them around anyway? Confused

Kitsune · Joined: 13 Mar 2008 Posts: 1406 Location: Manchester

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

Hi everyone
Thanks for all the responses.

The reason I'm toying with the idea of a change round is that I think it may be easier to manage just one broody with chicks in one ark than try to keep two on the go especially if I only get one or two chicks (don't forget these are ebay eggs so I'm not too optimistic about numbers)

I suppose I'm just after an easy life Wink

I take the point that the chicks may get confused so I need to decided before they hatch. One concern I've got is will 15 eggs under one Light Sussex be too many to sit on and result in breakages?

I have never candled eggs before is it easy to see the differences or is that for the more experienced?

Sue

Kitsune · Joined: 13 Mar 2008 Posts: 1406 Location: Manchester

candling is easy to tell dud eggs, wait till its dark, or find somewhere dark, put the torch up to the egg and occlude all escaping light, this will light up the inside of the egg, I would personally leave things as they are till day 14 or thereabouts when it's easier to tell what you have (or don't) in the egg - I'll try to find the site I had with candling pictures to post at the end.

If you have a developing chick in the egg you'll see that about 1/2 to 2/3 of the egg is dark, the light can't penetrate - that's the chick Smile

if it's clear all the way through it's a dud and you can throw it out. You should be able to see blood vessels if the light is good enough - at day 14 once I saw a tiny foot outlined against the shell Smile

Anywau - I digress, I'll go find that link now...

Good link with pictures of bad eggs and good eggs

Americal 4H candling site

There are some candlind movie clips on that second site to help give you a better idea too Smile

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

Thanks for those great links I'm going to have a go although some of my eggs are Welsummers and Barnevelder and the eggs are very dark shelled Confused

the others are Buff Sussex and are lighter. I'm off to make a Blue Peter type candling device.

JC · Joined: 24 Mar 2008 Posts: 1103 Location: Sussex

Goodluck, i made mine out a small lamp and a toilet roll! haha