21 days on and nothing happening...

[samois]

For the 1st time we've put two eggs under Mireille, one of our three french hens. The eggs we were given were supposedly fertilised - we just have hens and no cockerels. The 21 days are up today but I can't hear any pipping. I know I could try the torchlight/candling technique but I'd rather not disturb the sitting hen.

My question is: Are we 100% likely to not have either egg hatch, or should I leave it a bit longer? We are all on tenterhooks after counting the days... If it is a no-go, then can anyone give tips for rehabilitating a broody hen back into the team?

Thanks for any suggestions...this is my first go at posting on the Backyardchickens forum.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Welcome to the forum!

Glad you are here!

I'd give it a couple of more days. Some eggs just take longer to develop than others. Also, are you counting the days right? It is really easy to get confused about that. It takes 21 days of 24 hour development for an egg to develop 21 days. An easy way to look at it is that the egg should hatch on the day of the week you set the egg. If you put the eggs under the hen at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, the 21 days is up at 7:00 p.m. on a Tuesday, not on a Monday.

If you do decide to break he broody, this thread should help. I am strongly in favor of the wire cage method and have had consistent success with that.

Break a Broody Thread
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?pid=2176186#p2176186

 

[wekiva bird]

from south caroilna/ fla.

 

[white01]

from Maine

 

[RedRoosterFarm]

WELCOME! Wait a few more days. Some time my hens take 25 days because they are on and off. Its not like my GQF's.

 

[fluffystuffs808]

keep us posted! ALOHA form HAWAII !!

 

[Gallo del Cielo]

Hello samois and

from Tucson, AZ. What happened with your eggs?