what would you do????

[Nicos]

I'm not necessarily asking what is sensible/practical- BUT.......

I think Bertha may be getting a little broody again
Now-( close your eyes Lynda!!!!) I've got 4 chooks laying fertile eggs ....and......the cockerels may be leaving for pastures new before the Spring.

Should I/would you - let her hatch them???

and - if so just let her lay until she decides it's enough( how many are usually in a typical clutch ??) or sneak a few of the others in too to vary the bloodstock a bit???
( I have 2 cockerels who I think may be brothers)


( I'm getting all excited at the thought of it- and you can bet your socks she was just laying and nattering at me for disturbing her!!!)


Sooooo???????

[BrideXIII]

i would let her hatch them if your cockerels are leaving.

as for clutch size? no idea, 6 -8? has she got a big bum?

[Nicos]

has she got a big bum?

Well...it's not as big as mine!

[Bephlam]

lol - if I were a chicken....ohhh goodness...the number of eggs I could fit under my butt would amazing!!!

Let her hatch them!!

[SarzWix]

I'm sure I've read that 13 is the biggest number for a big hen (as opposed to a bantam) I'd collect them from the other girls too, then you will get a clutch sooner, and so they'll be fresher.

[Nicos]

Well..I just had to go and take a peek at her before I go to bed- and guess what??????

Yup- she's still in the nesting box and all the others are on the perch!!

Looks like I might be a grandMOM now !!!!!

[frias]

Fingers crossed.

[Irie Jan]

All the best, ahh all these babies around lets hope all is well

[Nicos]

Urmmm..well ....could do with advice

( not even started yet!!!)

OK- so when theothers lay- I'm supposing I've got to grab the warm eggs and put them under her??? Once they cool down they won't be viable????
So...need to be on egg laying watch for the next couple of days- whilst painting the bedroom??

or...I can just leave her to sit on maybe one of her own eggs and let her hatch one- and the wooden one???!
How will she know when to stop laying- oh boy- I usually do loads of reading up before I start any project!

helllpppp....

[MaureenHall]

If there's other fertile eggs around that aren't going to be hatched, then I'd say yes, go for putting them all under the brrody

[Snadger]

Urmmm..well ....could do with advice

( not even started yet!!!)

OK- so when theothers lay- I'm supposing I've got to grab the warm eggs and put them under her??? Once they cool down they won't be viable?..............

helllpppp....

Eggs CAN cool down..............Lynda recieved hers through royal mail!

[Nicos]

Eggs CAN cool down..............Lynda recieved hers through royal mail!

Oh- yes...I'd forgotten that!

I'm just off to open then up for the morning...fingers crossed she's still at it!

[Nicos]

Darn

One luke warm wooden egg- and she legged it out to the field with all the others

oh well- at least I know I'll let her sit next time ( and maybe it'll be a bit warmer too eh?)

[Nicos]

OK...so I nipped back a few minutes later to find Betty laying and an indignant Bertha waitng to get back on her 'nest'.
So -I waited for Betty to lay, then Bertha back in her place ( on Betty's egg and the wooden one) then gently placed 3 of yesterdays eggs ( marked with a X) under her- and removed the wooden one!

An hour later Bertha is sitting certainly on 4 - if not 5 eggs!
The 3 yesterday were cold, but kept indoors, so they may be OK- hence marking them with an X


Talk about crafty eh????

[Nicos]

- and now I've put a nice warm one under her!
Maybe I should start removing the ones with X on????- or what????

What's the maximum she should sit on d'ya think???