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Putting Fertile Eggs Under a Clucky
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Author:  Burnsy [ Sun Nov 03, 2013 12:15 am ]
Post subject:  Putting Fertile Eggs Under a Clucky

My gold lace is clucky and I was thinking of putting half a dozen fertile eggs under her for my two girls to experience. Has anyone done this, anything to watch out for? Will mum look after them or do I need to make alterations to my chook pen to accomodate them?

Next question, has anyone got half a dozen pure bred fertilised eggs they are interested in selling? If so let me know what breed and I will get back to you.

Cheers,
Mike

Author:  Jaymie [ Sun Nov 03, 2013 8:31 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Putting Fertile Eggs Under a Clucky

it can be a bit hit and miss, depends on the hen.
try to sneak the eggs in at night, she will "find" them in the morning

some hens are good brooders, some good mothers, some are both

how small is the mesh on your pen? will baby birds be able to fall out of the holes, and will skinny snakes be able to get in?

Author:  Burnsy [ Sun Nov 03, 2013 9:36 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Putting Fertile Eggs Under a Clucky

Thanks Jamie, gives me a few things to think about.

Author:  Simo [ Tue Nov 05, 2013 10:13 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Putting Fertile Eggs Under a Clucky

I've done it, just sneak them under her on the nest, mum will raise them as her own even if they are ducks. Sorry no eggs at the moment.

Author:  Burnsy [ Fri Dec 27, 2013 12:34 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Putting Fertile Eggs Under a Clucky

OK chook is broody again so I think I will go with it this time. First though, should I leave her in a nest box in the main coup or build a separate box/cage for her? How many eggs should I get and has anyone got any pure australorps or similar good utility eggs at the moment?

Author:  Simo [ Fri Dec 27, 2013 11:27 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Putting Fertile Eggs Under a Clucky

My normal nests are off the ground which is great for collecting eggs but not so good for the chicks once they hatch so I have tried moving the clucky hen and her eggs to a ground level nest before but with no success. Each time I have done it she abandons the new nest with her eggs in it and goes back to being clucky on the empty nest she originally chose :crazy: females :dunno:

Your boxes are fairly low so just slip 6 fertile eggs under her and put a couple of your non-fertile ones in another box so the other chooks stop trying to lay more eggs on top of the broody one and let her do her thing. I separate mum and chicks from the rest for the first few months because I have a rooster and they can be a bit violent but with just chooks I reckon mum should be able to protect them while they learn the pecking order.

Sorry no eggs, mine are clucky now too.

Author:  Burnsy [ Sat Dec 28, 2013 12:52 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Putting Fertile Eggs Under a Clucky

Thanks Simo, good to know I can leave her in the coup and not build another :joy:

Going away for a few weeks mid Jan so will wait and see if she is still sitting just before that for eggs. Can't leave the house sitter to deal with hatching chicks and I want my girls to be around when they hatch. Let me know if you know anyone who might have half a dozen pure australorp eggs available around the 5th.

Author:  Peasants [ Fri Jan 10, 2014 5:01 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Putting Fertile Eggs Under a Clucky

Did you get some eggs Burnsy?

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