I have a red hen that I got on Easter. She's barely 6 months old. She's been sitting on her nest since yesterday morning. She's only been laying eggs for about a month; and they're so tiny! Is this normal?
small eggs are normal if she just started laying
I have RI reds. they started laying just after their 4th month. I have a hen who consistently lays double yolkers. They are much bigger than the other ones, so it is obvious. My hens are free range I can't get them to set. When I find one that starts to set I give her eggs and she takes them but then she gets bored & leaves. I have hatched very small eggs in the incubator, though, and they were fine. Have yours hatched yet?
Jaci, Are these still very young RIReds? Double yolkers sometimes occur with young birds, altho some hens just seem to ovulate 2-at a time quite often. You cannot MAKE a hen set!! A setting hen does not get bored. When they get broody, they remain broody--eggs or not--for weeks! It is a very "determined" thing--determined by Mother Nature after a hen has layed quite a few eggs. Would not expect your young ones to set until they have layed for several months, at least. And nowdays lots of RIReds do not set at all. So don't be impatient and go ahead and use the incubator, if you need chicks! Good luck. CJR
I also have 13 more hens and 2 roosters. Should I move "Red" by herself? I have a 10 X 10 pen in the chicken barn, but I need to put up some more chicken wire.
If I need to move her, does it need to be done right away? Will she be okay on the cement floor in a cardboard box filled with hay, or should I put her up off the floor? Right now she's in a nest about 5 feet up, and the other hens have their own boxes.
Aren't you supposed to "candle" the eggs to make sure they are'nt double yolked? How can I do that when I can't get her off of her nest? I hate to disturb her.
I would love for her to have chicks, but it seems to me that she's too young and her eggs too small. Does anyone know what I should do?
I had no idea that raising chickens would be so confusing (and exciting)! ANY advise would be greatly appriciated.
By Mamahen on Saturday, September 4, 1999 - 11:09 pm:
they say to move brooding hens to a private area w/ their eggs dont know about floor or not if you have a hen incubating the eggs then i wouldnt candle them. dont disturb her any more than you have to or shell just say forget it and not sit on her eggs.
5 and half months is when they start laying- dont worry shell be fine
jwrs3@aol.com kim
By Jaci on Tuesday, September 21, 1999 - 08:04 pm:
By Cjeanr on Wednesday, September 22, 1999 - 02:23 am: