Oh NO!!My broody hen has chucked three of her six eggs out.

[MehgaLegs]

One definately had an embryo in it too, the other two are just empty shells.

I can't rescue the other three and put them in my incy as they will spread bacteria to my other eggs.

I wonder what made her do it? She has been really good up until now.

Otherwise is she still sitting? If so, I guess you'll just have to see what happens given that your incubator is in use.

Perhaps she's been reading the 'Larger Families' sections and it's given her cold feet?

Yes, she is still sitting. She came off briefly and I checked the remaining three. They were intact and warm.

Such a shame, I know they can kick out any duds but the cracked one I found had a definite chick embryo in it.

I shall watch her carefully. I read an article somewhere about a lady who incubated eggs successfully on the warming plate of her AGA. Might have to try that as last resort.

"incubated eggs successfully on the warming plate of her AGA" - Duchess pricks up her ears!

ooh, like this?. V. interesting.

See it can be done. I'm off to check temp of my warming oven.

Just candled remaining three - all fertile! Fingers crossed.

Well here's hoping! How many more days does she have to sit?

A week today - oh it's ages.

5 days and counting down... is she still sitting?

My new hen house has finally been despatched. Yay!

Ooh lovely - what did you get?

Lulu is sitting very tight. We have a new shed to put up on Saturday for her. Once chicks are hatched (fingers crossed) I am going to move her into it.

Our biggest chick predators around here are the crows and magpies. The ark she is in at the moment has large gauge chicken wire and the chicks can jump through it. The new shed will have fine gauge mesh and lots of chick play room. Then all being well, they can move out at the end of the month and my crew from the incy (candeled last night - lots of blobs) can move into the shed.

It's going to be a bit bonkers for awhile.

Also we might have more than 50 chickens - I think that means we have to register with DEFRA.

New coop is a bit like this one. It's going to be used for one or two broodys at a time or the cockerel can go in it whenever the girls need a break. He currently has a 'favourite' and her back is rather bald, poor thing.

If we have a lot of chicks this year, then we'll need another BIG hen house as the current one can only take another 5/6 birds. And something for the cocks I suppose, previously they've had a house and free ranged until we've eaten them but these days the fox keeps beating us to it.

Thanks for reminding me about DEFRA, I think we may have strayed over that line a few times (but not this year)!

Like the coop but that's the weirdest looking chicken I have ever seen.

My lot down the end of the garden are going to have their wings clipped tonight.

I have just spent the afternoon planting all my veg seeds and first chance they get they will all be over the fence and having a good old scratch.