Are ex-bats supposed to go broody?

[lynda66]

see i have my uses lol ...... i found quite a few selling 3 duck eggs over the summer, but the ducks seem to have dried up now i was thinking of getting an incubator cos it looks like the only way i'll get what i want.

anyway it's not about your fancy it's about a miserable chicken lol

[MaureenHall]

I understand what you mean about not wanting to put some day old chicks with her, it sort of defeats the object doesn't it?

[chicken slave]

Where abouts are you in Newcastle as I am from there (only moved down south a year ago) and I maybe able to help you find a local breeder, as I still keep in touch with people up there just incase imigration find me and send me back

[lynda66]

anything today??

[Snadger]

anything today??

Fraid not Lynda! Took another dodgy egg from under her but didn't have the heart to try anymore (three left) She looked at me as if to say "Can I have my egg back now?"........... I kid you not..............If I had my Gazza head on I would have burst into tears!

Still, as they say, 'life goes on' and maybe ex bats and I aren't cut out for motherhood!

[BrideXIII]

hun, i wouldn't balme the mum at this point, you have no guarantee those eggs were fertile!

trust me it took 13 years for me to produce a couple of fertile eggs, here is hoping you dont have to wait that long

[MaureenHall]

I feel really bad for you Snadger, I was one of the ones who nagged you to let Tush be a mum I'm really sorry xxx

[lynda66]

i feel bad too, kind guilty that she didn't end up with babies maybe the eggs were dud, guess theres no way of knowing now

[shirlthegirl43]

I would guess if the eggs don't hatch they were either duds or too long from laying to being put under the broody. It isn't mum's fault if they don't hatch - nor your fault either Snadger.

[Flummery]

That seem to be the problem getting eggs by mail. If they are rushed straight from the chicken's bum to the post, you can be ok - lots of people get good results like this, but if they've been hanging around before posting it's out of your hands. You've done the best for her (and them). So sorry - we were all excited with you.

[Hilary B]

If she is noticing the loss of eggs removed for testing, it really would be kinder to give her some day-olds. SHE will get the reassurance, which is much more important than whether it is 'the object of the exercise'. She's done her bit, let her think it worked!

[Snadger]

The myth of the exploding egg is no longer a myth!

I took another egg from her leaving her with two and as I went to break it it exploded with a bang. Luckily I managed to keep it off me but the stink was attrocious! Imagine one of those stink bombs you had as a kid (and don't say you didn't!) then multiply the stink from one of those by 10!

Anyway, she's still sitting and I'll take another from her tomorrow and the last the day after.
I don't want to give her day olds in case that goes pear shaped as well and something untoward happens!

I am now resigned to the fact that both Tush and myself did the best we could for each other and we must both get on with our lives now.
After the last egg is gone, I'll leave her where she is for a few days to see if she loses her broodiness, if not I'll take the straw out of the nestbox and make it a bit uncomfortable for her (bare boards an all) and hopefully things will eventually get back to normal.

She'll always be a bit of a favourite of mine though!

[BrideXIII]

you know all is not lost, have a look around locally, see if you can find someone to supply eggs rather than trusting the post, she DID her job, and from what you said she was a consistant mum, rarely off the nest.
I'm of the opinion the eggs themselves were duff.
give her a break , and if she goes broody again later, try again.
I agree that giving her day olds is not really an option at this point, she has not had a chance to rear yet, so you don't know if she is capable of the next step after hatching, and is going to be a good mum. getting hold of some hatchable eggs and her bringing them to term will tell you that, and then if she does make a good mum, you can go the foster mum route with her in the future.

[lynda66]

although chicks are pre programmed to eat and drink and keep warm from birth, really all she has to do is keep them warm, as long as theres food and water they will work it out themselves in a couple of days ........ they must do, otherwise chicks born in incubators would starve ........ anyway she's done what she was supposed to and sat on the eggs and hopefully if theres a next time, i'm sure she will be a great mum

[shirlthegirl43]

I just hope that sitting so tight for no result doesn't put her off trying again.