tveguy3 said:That's the one Rick, glad you dug it out. This year the hen wanted to hatch eggs again, she hid a nest, and I couldn't let her sit out side, as we have to many predators, so when I found her nest I put some eggs into her nest in the pen, and she started to brood them. None of them hatched, and all of them have exploded, but she keeps sitting on the darn empty nest. It's too late or I'd give her some chicken eggs to hatch. She's been brooding since June, and I'm worried she will get to thin and weak to make the winter if she doesn't stop this nonsence.
That's so sad, Tom. I worry enough about mine during the spring sitting...it's tough to think your gal is putting herself through that now.
None of our eggs hatched last year, but I had the birds on a fairly rich diet the winter preceding. This year I made sure they had more variety in their feed and less fat, and we did have three eggs hatch out of the five I allowed the hen to keep.
Sure hope your hen pulls herself out of it soon and starts preparing for winter. Against my better judgement (I really do know better
) we're planning on keeping our pair's offspring over the winter, too. If their coop gets to looking too crowded I guess I'll be moving them into the barn.
It freezes here nearly every night now.
Her first eggs this spring didn't have strong shells, but then later on they became normal. They free range, so they get a good variety in their diet. What breed do you raise Chelle?
I pile 'em in their pen and by the next day they're fine! They love the work...ahem... play. 
