Broody??

[pnweingart]

One, maybe two, of my young hens has just started laying 2 weeks ago. One was laying on the bare shelf of my She Shed. I’ve set her up with a nest box now but we take her one egg a day from the nest. She spends so much time in her box I’m wondering if she’s broody and if she is, is it likely her eggs are fertile? I have roosters that are definitely interested in the girls.

If her eggs were fertile how does that work? Does she lay several then stop laying more and sit on them continuously?

 

[GodLovesU]

If she spends most of her time on the nest I’d say she’s broody.If you have roosters I’d say they’re fertile.Do you want her to hatch eggs?If not you can just take them from her.My hen goes broody and then other hens keep laying eggs under her,which is not what you want!This results in a staggered hatch.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

I’ve set her up with a nest box now but we take her one egg a day from the nest. She spends so much time in her box I’m wondering if she’s broody and if she is, is it likely her eggs are fertile? I have roosters that are definitely interested in the girls.

Broody hens don't continue to lay eggs and they sleep in the nest at night. Is she sleeping in the nest box at night?

Sounds like she *may* be avoiding the interested roosters and could be part of the reason she spends so much time in the box.

You can check if eggs are fertile by cracking them open and looking for the bullseye. Examples from google images..

Congrats on your new layers!

 

[pnweingart]

Thank you. I’ll crack the eggs tomorrow am and see. We have grandchildren and we do want to experience chicks hatching. I’m going to show my ignorance with this question but if I leave the eggs and then realize she’s not really broody how long would the eggs be good to eat?

 

[GodLovesU]

It depends on whether they started developing or not.

 

[aart]

if I leave the eggs and then realize she’s not really broody how long would the eggs be good to eat?

Not a good idea to do that, gather all eggs daily.
If she's going to go broody she doesn't need eggs to do it.

If you think you want to have a broody hatch eggs, do some planning on how you'll manage it....there are a few options and some necessities. Then you'll be ready if you do get a broody.

 

[pnweingart]

Thanks, I actually have put some thought on it but no firm plan yet. But I do have some ideas. Thank you.