What are the chances my hens eggs are fertile? UPDATE

My hen had 10 chicks, which I sold at 3 weeks because I was having some trouble integrating them with the older chicks and I was going away for 10 days and had no-one to watch them. I put her back with the rooster the day I sold the chicks, but she was only with him for two days when the neighbours' dog killed him (these are actually my neighbours' chickens, I just try to help them out because my neighbours don't look after them). I couldn't do anything for her right away because I was leaving in a couple of days. I got back yesterday and couldn't find her, but I found her and her new nest this morning. There are 4 eggs in the nest so far.

So in summary, I sold her chicks on the 2nd of February and put her with her rooster. The dog killed the rooster on the 5th of February, so she was with him for about a day and half. I went away after that, and now 2 weeks and three days later I found her nest (right on the concrete floor in the corner of my neighbours' carport) with 4 fresh eggs. One of them was just layed this morning.

What are the chances that any of her eggs will be fertile? She's been through a lot the last two and a half weeks. Should I set up a safer nest for her or remove the eggs?

There's a good chance the eggs are fertile. I'd let her try to hatch them (if that's what you want). I would set up a safer nest, move her at night and lock her in it for the first day or two letting her out to get food/water/poop.

Thanks. She's all alone since the rooster died so I was hoping they'd be fertile so she can hatch herself some company. She's not broody yet, just started laying, so I've built her a cozy nest box and put it in the spot she was laying. I also put her eggs in the nest. For now they're reasonably safe, and she's very good at protecting and hatching her eggs. It's when they hatch that they get taken by hawks. I don't have space in my coop for her as I'm getting day old chicks tomorrow and I'm brooding them in the coop. I was thinking of letting her nest in the spot she's chosen. It's quite well sheltered, and with the nest box I've just put for her it'll be comfortable now too. Then I have time to build her a separate tractor to move her into as soon as her eggs start hatching (if they hatch). Do you think that would work?

chameleon said:

Thanks. She's all alone since the rooster died so I was hoping they'd be fertile so she can hatch herself some company. She's not broody yet, just started laying, so I've built her a cozy nest box and put it in the spot she was laying. I also put her eggs in the nest. For now they're reasonably safe, and she's very good at protecting and hatching her eggs. It's when they hatch that they get taken by hawks. I don't have space in my coop for her as I'm getting day old chicks tomorrow and I'm brooding them in the coop. I was thinking of letting her nest in the spot she's chosen. It's quite well sheltered, and with the nest box I've just put for her it'll be comfortable now too. Then I have time to build her a separate tractor to move her into as soon as her eggs start hatching (if they hatch). Do you think that would work?

Click to expand...

Sounds good. There is a chance they won't hatch or be fertile, and if she doesn't go broody soon you won't get chicks. Can you find fertile eggs to add to her nest? So there are more and she is more likely to go broody.

TheKindaFarmGal said:

Sounds good. There is a chance they won't hatch or be fertile, and if she doesn't go broody soon you won't get chicks. Can you find fertile eggs to add to her nest? So there are more and she is more likely to go broody.

Click to expand...

I've been looking for fertile eggs for weeks, but I live in the middle of nowhere as far as chicken supplies are concerned. She is a chronic broody though, so I'm fairly certain she'll go broody in the next week or so. How long will the eggs be ok, they're all less than a week old and the freshest one was laid this morning.

chameleon said:

I've been looking for fertile eggs for weeks, but I live in the middle of nowhere as far as chicken supplies are concerned. She is a chronic broody though, so I'm fairly certain she'll go broody in the next week or so. How long will the eggs be ok, they're all less than a week old and the freshest one was laid this morning.

Click to expand...

I've got hens like that too. Eggs can last up to 2-3 weeks, give or take, but after 1 week the chance that they'll hatch goes down. Still, they could hatch.

TheKindaFarmGal said:

I've got hens like that too. Eggs can last up to 2-3 weeks, give or take, but after 1 week the chance that they'll hatch goes down. Still, they could hatch.

Click to expand...

If it doesn't work out I'll just keep looking, maybe I'll find someone who can ship eggs here.

My hen went broody on Friday with 11 eggs. I candled a couple of the eggs this morning and the ones I candled are definitely fertile I will candle the rest tonight , but so far so good.

Great news!

TheKindaFarmGal said:

Great news!

Click to expand...

Thanks. I candled them properly yesterday and 9 are developing, 2 weren't fertile and I removed them to give the others a better chance. Not too bad considering all she's been through the last few weeks.