07/17/2025
Update on my incubated egg test: it failed.
At around 18 days incubation I selected 2 eggs per broody hens. That night, around 8pm, I slipped the eggs under each hen. The next morning I checked and each hen still had 2 marked eggs under them. Remember, these hens are in the main coop with everyone else.
I went back out to collect eggs at noon and I checked the marked eggs. I had given a total of 10 eggs. I could only find 6. I did find a squished chick under one hen. I grabbed him and put him with the others in the incubator and hoped for the best.
Over the next days I checked on everyone multiple times each day. Each chick that hatched got pecked and stepped on. I removed the chicks and saved those I could. I also took the remaining 3 unhatched eggs that were still there.
I thought everything was over but yesterday I went out to do a final egg collection and night check and found another squished chick that had been hidden from me.
Overall, an epic fail. I also moved 4 of the hens to a secluded, elevated, cage to hopefully cool off the broody-ness. I still have a few in the main coop claiming broody. I will move them as soon as I can gather another cage together.
On a happy note, look at the others that hatched from the incubator!
