[evie2]

Star is living up to her name, she's a fabulous broody however today when I was doing my daily check when she's was out, there are only 11 eggs left there were 15 to start with.
I wasn't expecting all 15 to hatch but now I'm getting a bit concerned.  There are bits of egg shell in the broody coop but no signs of intruders.

So my question is, do broodies remove eggs early if they're not fertile?

[jinty1911]

Have read on here that they kick out the unfertile eggs.  Mum knows best so wouldn't worry to much about it.

[bantam novice]

Hello Evie2,

I agree with Jinty here.  I am not very experienced; however, as I understand it, a broody hen will roll out and get rid of eggs that are non-viable.

I am sure someone more experienced will be along to advise you.  In the meantime good luck and keep us posted.

[Casey76]

First of all I would check to make sure that there are no holes of rats to get into the coop.

Second of all, unless Star is a Brahma or Cochin, or the egs are from Sabelpoots, 15 is an *awful* lot for one hen to cover.  The most i would put under is 9, and this is with a large fluffy bird.

Thirdly, is she coming off the nest to eat, drink and toilet at all?

If an egg breaks when she is manoeuvering them around, she will eat it to clean up the mess.  I have a feeling, that with so many eggs she may try to have them more than one layer deep, and is cracking them when she settles down onto them.

If Star is a LF silkie, I would be tempted to candle the eggs, and then reduce the number to 7, depending on he size of the eggs.

[Honeysuckle]

Excuse my ignorance  what does LF mean? As in LF Silkie.

Thanks 

[orchardlady]

LF =Large Fowl

[Honeysuckle]

Doh!!! don't I feel stoopid now!!!!!! 

[GrannieAnnie]

Doh!!! don't I feel stoopid now!!!!!! 

No you don't, you just know a bit more than you did a few minutes previously! 

[orchardlady]

Not stupid at all, as Grannie Annie says you now know something new. Non of us would learn anything unless we asked!

Orchardlady.

[evie2]

Star is a large Light Sussex and they're all poot and Dutch Bantam eggs, so no problem covering them   She comes out twice a day to poo, for food and water (wheat and corn, now chick crumb) which is right outside the coop and to stretch her legs and preen.  For the last few days she's also socialised with the others.  It's a new brood coop with no holes etc. and no evidence of rodents.

I suspect she's just clearing non-viable eggs and cleaning up, I reckon she knows what she's doing and she's done it fine so far, it's me, the human who's all a dither

If I'm like this now, goodness knows what I'll be like once the chicks hatch