Friday, June 14, 2013

The Broody Hen: No Calendar for Her


Hens don't mark the days until they get to Day 21.

They just sit on eggs, turn eggs, and wait, and wait, and wait.

They will sit on eggs for 21, 25, 30 or 40 days, waiting to hear peeps.

I, though, know it takes about 21 days for chicken eggs to hatch. I mark the calendar when I notice a hen sitting on a nest. If the eggs do not hatch by Day 25, then I remove the eggs.

Note on the photo: I took a new photo today. This hen has really hunkered down and is taking her nesting duties seriously. I have only seen her leave the nest once. I asked her why she has covered herself in straw, but she is tight-beaked about it.

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