Hen not sitting on eggs - what to do??

suzied · Feb 21, 2016

We live in Hawaii and 3 hens and 1 rooster have moved into our backyard. 1 hen hatched 10 baby chicks about 20 days ago. They live in the corner of our yard in a dark nest they built. I noticed yesterday there are 8 eggs in the nest where the hen and baby chicks sleep. The hen and chicks are on the nest at night but the nest is empty during the day when the hen and chicks are exploring the yard. Is it possible the hen has laid more eggs so soon? Or has a different hen laid these eggs? Will these eggs hatch if a hen is not sitting on them constantly? Thank you for your help!!!

sumi · Feb 21, 2016

In my experience broody hens usually start laying eggs when they are ready to wean the chicks, when they are about 6-7 weeks old. It's likely another hen laid the eggs in that nest and unlikely that they will hatch, being half-incubated. Unless it's warm by you at the moment. I have had it happen once that nighttime broody and hot enough daytime temperatures was adequate to keep a clutch of eggs developing and eventually hatching, but it was not a good hatch, most of the chicks did not make it.

Hen not sitting on eggs - what to do??

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suzied

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sumi

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