Poultry Talk Ontario (pto.ca)

I have a question. My broodie is a serious gal. She is so serious she even s in her box. DISGUSTING! So I take her out every day and scoop her . Each time gagging is in order. So nasty! How can a broody have such a big ? Anyways .. One of the eggs that are due, now actually, has on it. I'm worried about bacteria for the newly hatched. Can I clean the egg?

Wow. I actually behaved and said po*op each time, not sh*t and I still got the pile. Good to know

LOL if the eggs are due just totally leave her and the eggs alone. might be why she crapped in the nest? they wont get off the nest at all for a few days before, during and after the hatch to make sure they are all hatched. just zombified, at least in my limited experience.

and oh...... fingers crossed for you!

OK Al. None have even pipped yet and I tried to listen for peeps .. Nothing

Try to leave her be if you can, Sandy. I'm sure she will do an admirable job.You'll be hearing peeps soon enough ... Probably you'll wake to new chicks.
When Gracie incubated her first batch of eggs here, I didn't hear anything the night before they hatched, and the next morning there were three little chicks.

Sounds good. I'll leave her be!

I don't hear anything and I don't see anything. I'm trying to be good!! No fingers under her belly having a feel.

Good thing is Sheltie arrives this morning so I'll be preoccupied for a while.

So I'm curious. How does the chick not suffocate trying to get out of her shell with mom on top of her? Does she push them out from under her once she starts to hatch?

No they just struggle out!