Advise is needed

Hi, its just my opinion, but I would let things be. Those that were set together should hatch within 24 hours or so of each other, and the others may hatch a little later, but that will be up to the hen as to whether she continues to sit or not. The main thing that i have learned with broody hens is NOT to interfere in any way, shape or form - she knows whats best for her developing chicks so if she decides not to move off the nest for 2 days, for example - there's a reason.

All the best
CT

 

that's not too bad a time gap.

I take my cues from the hen. Some hens stay on the nest for a good two-three days after that first chick hatches, some can't seem to wait to hop off as soon as possible. I don't mess with them until she leaves the nest and takes the hatched chicks to eat and drink. Then I go in and clean up shell debris, usually change out the bedding in the nest area, and assess any unhatched eggs at that point. She comes back to a fresh clean nest and I didn't have to risk getting pecked...we're both happy

 

When I was a kid one of my chores was to collect the eggs. If we had a broody hen I’d mark eggs from the egg bucket and put them under her. Afterwards I’d check every evening to remove the eggs that were not marked. As long as you remove them daily they are still good to use. You will to find any surprises in them. Some broody hens were not that aggressive, some were downright vicious. But no way was I going to tell my father I was afraid of a chicken. Do what you need to do, but maybe gloves and long sleeves will help some. I don’t think I ever had a broody hen draw blood but some really hurt.

Like Donrae I’ve had broody hens bring their chicks off the nest within 24 hours of the first one to hatch. I’ve had hens wait three days to bring them off. Before a chick even external pips but after internal pip, the chick will usually start chirping. It’s basically telling the hen “Don’t go anywhere, I’m coming”. The hen will often cluck back “Don’t worry baby, I’m waiting”.

Chicks absorb the yolk before they hatch and can live for three days or more after hatch without eating or drinking. That’s why they can be shipped and why the hen can wait on late eggs to hatch. But after a certain time the chicks need to eat and drink. They tell this to Mama by giving a plaintive chirp. Most broody hens will abandon any unhatched eggs at this point.

This is the problem with staggered hatches, you just don’t know how all this timing will come together. With a two day difference, she may wait on the late ones, she might not. I suggest watching her when the hatch starts and put any unhatched eggs in the incubator when she brings them off the nest.

Welcome to the broody hen adventure, it’s a great journey. And next time you’ll know to start them all at the same time. You could still do that, toss the eggs that are under her and give her a fresh clutch of eggs. I know how valuable those eggs become once a hen starts incubating them, but that is what I’d do. You are only three days in. Your life will be a lot less stressful.