Gerald Majors |
05-01-2013 07:20 PM |
Ed,
I agree with Destr. The small grape clusters looking structures are the ovaries with un ovulated ova (immature eggs) and the larger golfball size structures are eggs in slightly different stages of development. She would have been ready to nest soon.
A hen may and can be bred every day by the gobbler. Sperm is stored in the hen's oviduct for up to 4 weeks so only one successful breeding is necessary to fertilize the eggs for an entire clutch. Once she starts laying, she may lay an egg every day until her nest contains an average of 12 eggs (8-16). However she will not sit (incubate) the eggs continuously until all her eggs are laid.
You should be able to cut/slice into the structures and they look like.... .an "egg" ..but the shell will not be hard hard yet. They could be runny or jelly like.
Well that's my two cents worth.
Gerald Majors (DVM)
Note: Yes it has been documented that bearded hens can be fertile, lay eggs and raise chicks/poults.
|