Hi folks,
My new additions have turned broody and for the past week I haven't found a single egg in their nesting box. I read somewhere that sometimes they stop laying when they are broody and that it could take a while before they start laying again. Fair do's. Who am I to argue with Mother Nature
![happy :)](https://chat.allotment-garden.org/Smileys/green/smile.gif)
The problem is, this morning I noticed the hens on the other side of the fence (we have a bit partitioned off mainly because the back fence is full of holes and the fence was originally erected to stop our wee dogs getting out into the field - I'll post a pic so you can see what I mean). I went to check and they have made a nest in the bushes - neat little nest I must say, and in it I found 8 eggs.
My question is, what do I do with the eggs? Should I leave them there and let them play 'mommy' or should I remove them. If I do remove them should I discard them or would they still be OK for eating?
One other thing, some of the eggs have blood smears on them. Both the girls are looking healthy, eating and drinking and foraging with no visible signs of something being wrong with them. Is this normal or should I start fretting?
I do know one thing for sure. I am going to have to put up some netting to stop them getting over the back. I am not afraid they will fly off or something will get at them (they go into their coop each night no bother and they are locked up), but I can't see me making a habit of climbing over fencing and negotiating bushes, most of which have nasty thorns on them. I have a feeling once I get over it is going to be a mission to get back again :blink:
Thanks in advance for any advice.
Here is a pic of the blocked off bit at the back of their enclosure and a pic of the eggs in the makeshift nest.