what would you do????

[Bephlam]

I'd take a chill pill right now - you've WEEKS to wait for these eggs. I don't want you spontaniously combusting with sheer eggcitement!

Let nature take the lead....

[Nicos]

Wonder if I'll have chicks before you have eggs Bephlam !

[Bephlam]

lol...probably Nicos, probably!!!

I just went out to clean the girls - OMG - the wind nearly blew me off my feet!!! My pale went everywhere...sawdust flying! No wonder they won't come out today!!!

I hunted high and low for a stray egg, but noooooo....

If you've got babies before I have eggs I'll...ermm....I'll do something!

[Nicos]

Don't worry- she was outside eating a few minutes ago!!!!

[lynda66]

as long as the eggs haven't started the incubation process, they can safely be stored for up to a week, after that fertility levels drop ...... the chook still only lays one a day, so will lay, then leave the egg to go cold, then after she's laid as many eggs as she's going to, she will begin incubating, so basically leave the eggs in her nest, and when she's ready she will lay on them, that way they will all hatch around the same time ....... you can substitute her eggs with some of the others, and she will sit on them just the same, and even add a couple more ....... ooooooooo how eggciting lots more babies

[Bephlam]

I soooo hope one of my girls go broody before I have to use the incubator, but....knowing my luck...they won't!

[kirsty b]

I had one of my old flock go broody and we got her some fertile eggs to sit.
The farm I got the eggs from said that a chook could sit a dozen and a good banty could sit on 8 normal sized chook eggs.

All the brooding info I googled said that once a hen has laid her clutch, she will start to sit and that the incubation period is 3 )21 days) weeks from the whole clutch being laid. Nature allows for her to lay however many eggs she wants and I think she will start sitting when she feels she has enough in her nest.
She will know how many she has, and if any are removed/changed she will know! I really hope I get a broody this year.

[HayleyB]

OOOhhhhhhhh, babies, wow, go grandMOM. Hey Beph maybe Nicos babies will be laying before yours, you sure they're girls

[Nicos]

Hey Beph maybe Nicos babies will be laying before yours, you sure they're girls

Now you know....I managed to resist asking that!!!

[Bephlam]

ha ha smarty panties - they HAVE to be girls - they are faverolles, which as you know can be sexed from birth by colouring....so....they're girls. They're just a bit greedy!!!

[MaureenHall]

Don't worry Beph, they're saving themselves ready to give you the bestest eggs ever! Won't be long now

[Hashette]

Must....... resist.......

But it's really not easy! I haven't got anywhere near enough experience to even consider getting an incubator and hatching some, but reading this is soooooooo tempting!

[HayleyB]

Resistance is futile.....

Except in my case I am battery recharger

[lynda66]

Must....... resist.......

But it's really not easy! I haven't got anywhere near enough experience to even consider getting an incubator and hatching some, but reading this is soooooooo tempting!

it's actually really easy, as long as the temperature is consistent at 37.5 at egg level ...... and you turn them lots, they do it all themselves