I have hen who has 3 eggs at the moment, she only incubates the eggs during the day and at night leaves and sleeps outside ( different ) is this common or even normal..

Eggs have no chance will they ???

She may not actually be incubating yet. Often when they are in the nest just to lay the next egg ( and yours is only halfway through a clutch ) people think they have begun incubating when they really havent....just sitting in there to lay the next egg is all.

Maybe she hasnt really begun incubating yet.

Some hens don't start incubation until the third egg is laid.

 

If you have other hens laying you can try fostering.

 

 

"Dead Heat"

Edited February 9, 201015 yr by Daz
Posted same time as Kaz...

Thanks guys..... I never knew that!!! All mine in the past stay on them from day one!!

Kool!!!!!!!!

Thanks guys..... I never knew that!!! All mine in the past stay on them from day one!!

Kool!!!!!!!!

Sometimes it looks like they do, but they dont. A few do, but most dont. Good luck with your eggs

She is probably not incubating, as Kaz said. Good luck!

Back to this topic!!!!

 

Well She stopped laying at 4 eggs....It's been over a week the hen is only incubating the eggs during the day and at night sleeps OUTSIDE!!!!

Is this a bad hen????

They might not hatch, Kaz or somebody could tell you positivly. Do you have another hen who has a small clutch? You could foster them out.

Back to this topic!!!!

 

Well She stopped laying at 4 eggs....It's been over a week the hen is only incubating the eggs during the day and at night sleeps OUTSIDE!!!!

Is this a bad hen????

If this is truly the case then the eggs will be no good.

way out suggestion, could you try shuting hen inside nest box at niht for a day or so? To see if she gets the idea of incubating?

I wouldn't do that... would cause the hen to get scared and then all sorts of bad things could happen...

way out suggestion, could you try shuting hen inside nest box at niht for a day or so? To see if she gets the idea of incubating?

Would cause trauma and may cause her to break eggs and or become an egg eater.

Wouldn't have thought of that. One more for the memory bank.