The Dogmother Posted June 21, 2010 Share Posted June 21, 2010 I have 12 pure breed banty eggs under my moody broodies; 4 barred dottes, 4 gold laced dottes and 4 black German Langshans. All is going well, except that the expectant mums are so fixated that they aren't eating when I pop them off the nest twice a day, so I have taken to closing the Eglu door for 5 minutes to stop them rushing straight back in. They also now have a wee pot of mealworms in there, which they are eating. These girls are brilliant mums, but will fade away in their obsession if I don't remind them to eat On Saturday, they'd rejected one egg, which had a dented shell and the egg was cold. I popped it back under and it hasn't been scooted out again, but I am sure that it will be a dud when I candle at the weekend. The barred dotte eggs have a question mark over their fertility, looking at them, it is a shell quality issue rather than the male shooting blanks - the shells are thin and porous - the sort that don't usually hatch. I'll keep you updated and will try to get photos of the candling. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lewis Posted June 21, 2010 Share Posted June 21, 2010 Aww Have you tried soaked corn? Tasha said to try it when Hilary wasn't eating, soaked some in water for 6+ hours and she scoffed loads of that Good lucks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted June 21, 2010 Author Share Posted June 21, 2010 Yes thanks, but they are happy with the mealworms which have plenty of protein. I am also giving them a bit of corn to keep their body temperature up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted June 21, 2010 Share Posted June 21, 2010 A brilliant picture. They have that glazed look. Good luck with the hatch. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Falkor Posted June 22, 2010 Share Posted June 22, 2010 ooooh German Langshans! it was great to meet you Sunday! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted June 22, 2010 Author Share Posted June 22, 2010 Gorgeous, aren't they? Next time we'll have more time to chat Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted June 24, 2010 Author Share Posted June 24, 2010 Well, the dented egg stayed under them, but broke on Tuesday night while I was away. Phil said that it showed no signs of being fertile though, so not a problem really. One barred 'dotte egg down then Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted June 28, 2010 Author Share Posted June 28, 2010 A quick update; I candled the eggs on Friday night. Of the original 12, I lost one last week, which had a fragile shell, from the remaining 11, candling showed 3 to be duds - 2 x barred dottes and one x gold laced. I have taken those eggs out now and the laydees have returned to their dazed maternal state. Chicks due sometime around this weekend. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted June 28, 2010 Share Posted June 28, 2010 Good luck to those girls Clare Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lewis Posted June 28, 2010 Share Posted June 28, 2010 8/12 is still good Hope they all hatch Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted June 29, 2010 Share Posted June 29, 2010 Are you hatching the eggs and keeping them with the hens together or are you separating them ? Also mine put a duck egg out but I put it back under and it has been candled and it is fertile so fingers crossed for both of us. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted June 29, 2010 Author Share Posted June 29, 2010 The are hatching them (two broodies) and I will leave the mums in with them until they are about 4 or 6 weeks old. the hens usually get fed up with them b that time and want to be back with the flock. If it stays warm, then I might move them out sooner. The broodies are separate from the main flock, and I wouldn't advise to do otherwise - is that what you were asking? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlottechicken Posted June 30, 2010 Share Posted June 30, 2010 Ooh, good luck with the hatch this weekend Clare Those German Langshans look especially grand! I have Vorwerks in the incy at the moment, due on 10th July Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted June 30, 2010 Share Posted June 30, 2010 Charlotte chicken I have bali crested runner ducks due 10th of july. Extra special for me because it is my birthday. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted July 1, 2010 Author Share Posted July 1, 2010 Good luck to both of you. I checked the eggs this morning and they're all still being warmed, none have been rejected by the broodies as being invalid. Due at the weekend or thereabouts, so I'll start to listen to the eggs for cheeping on Saturday. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlottechicken Posted July 4, 2010 Share Posted July 4, 2010 Any hatched yet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted July 4, 2010 Author Share Posted July 4, 2010 exactly what Rosie just said to me! None yet and I checked for cheeping this afternoon; they are due over the next couple of days, let's hope that we get something at least - the fertlity/shell quality of the barred 'dotte eggs was suspect and we're down to one of those now. What's the betting that will be a boy? I promise to post photos as soon as I can. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted July 4, 2010 Share Posted July 4, 2010 mine were set at the same time, two hatched yesterday but they were tiny and early, I've just had a quick candle of the rest and they are moving but no sign of internal pipping yet so a couple of days away i reckon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted July 5, 2010 Author Share Posted July 5, 2010 How are the wee 'uns, Tasha? I haven't candled them again, and no cheeping this morning... we'll see. The boy left this morning and said to call him when they started to hatch so he could come up and see them. The atmosphere is very dry at the moment, so when I pop the laydees off tonight, I'll lightly mist inside the Eglu to help them out. I don't even have any damp turf to pop in the nest - everything is pretty dried out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted July 5, 2010 Share Posted July 5, 2010 The tiny two that hatched early didnt make it - I had broody issues She has been relieved of the remaining eggs and they have gone under another broody Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted July 5, 2010 Author Share Posted July 5, 2010 Oh dear, did she crack the eggs herself? What sort were they? I'm glad that you have another broody, if you're ever stuck, then just shout as I always have at least two broodies in the summer months. I checked again at lunchtime, still no cheeping yet and one of the eggs, a gold laced, seemed a bit cool for my liking. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted July 5, 2010 Share Posted July 5, 2010 A D'Anver chick hatched and was thrown from the nest, it was just alive when we found it but revived when placed in the incubator but it died yesterday. A German langshan hatched and was eaten by the broody she broke and ate the contents of an egg last week and then broke and ate two more eggs yesterday - those had been candled and were moving at the last check on day 15 The remaining 6 eggs have been given to another broody to hatch Needless to say the original one wont be used to hatch again Incubator eggs are faring a little better, all quickly candled the other night, many were moving but quite a few dubious ones - I removed some DIS but about 15 eggs are ok Last two hatches havent been the best I dont know if its the heat or something Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted July 5, 2010 Share Posted July 5, 2010 Oh, that's a shame. I bet the heat is to blame. I've read somewhere that egg eating increases in hot weather. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted July 6, 2010 Author Share Posted July 6, 2010 I've heard that too, and all my non-broody hens aren't laying much either No cheeping here this morning, will check again at lunchtime. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted July 6, 2010 Share Posted July 6, 2010 Nothing here yet either but a few wobbling eggs in the inccy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
