Are the eggs ruined? HELP

[Pufna]

So I have a broody hen that was on the nest for like 3-4 days before I move her to a private area. Just like her mother she left her nest box after some time.
The thing is she was in the nest box for like 30 hours, maybe a bit less or more, and then she escaped the area we put her in. So the eggs cooled off for more than 12 hours now after a full day and some more of incubating , can they still hatch or should I replace them?

 

[NatJ]

They might hatch, might not. I don't think anyone can tell for sure.

If you would like to give those eggs a chance, let the hen keep sitting on them and try candling at day 5 or later. If you see development in the eggs, that will be good proof that they are alive.

You certainly can replace the eggs if you want to. Given how early in incubation it is, that makes quite a bit of sense.

But I don't think I would give her new eggs just yet. I would leave her sitting on those same eggs, or on fake eggs, for at least the next day or two. That will give her a chance to setlle in the new spot, so you don't have a repeat with the next batch of eggs.

In future, I would recommend moving her before you let her have real eggs to sit on. She can sit on fake eggs while getting comfortable in the new spot, without endangering the eggs you want hatched.

 

[Pufna]

They might hatch, might not. I don't think anyone can tell for sure.

If you would like to give those eggs a chance, let the hen keep sitting on them and try candling at day 5 or later. If you see development in the eggs, that will be good proof that they are alive.

You certainly can replace the eggs if you want to. Given how early in incubation it is, that makes quite a bit of sense.

But I don't think I would give her new eggs just yet. I would leave her sitting on those same eggs, or on fake eggs, for at least the next day or two. That will give her a chance to setlle in the new spot, so you don't have a repeat with the next batch of eggs.

In future, I would recommend moving her before you let her have real eggs to sit on. She can sit on fake eggs while getting comfortable in the new spot, without endangering the eggs you want hatched.

I actually thought about that, but was scared that it would cause her even more stress to move her on fake eggs and then to again bother her to give her the real eggs.

 

[NatJ]

I actually thought about that, but was scared that it would cause her even more stress to move her on fake eggs and then to again bother her to give her the real eggs.

If you are going to move her, swapping to fake eggs while you do it will not add any more bother. Hens do not seem to notice or care about the difference in eggs.

In my experience, occasional brief disturbances (a few days apart, for a few minutes each time) are no big deal. Of course this may depend on the hen, but it hasn't been an issue with the ones I have dealt with. So swapping eggs a few days after moving the hen doesn't seem to cause trouble.

If you're really concerned about it, you can swap eggs while she's off the nest eating, or do it during the night. She will certainly notice you doing it at night, but she is less likely to get up and move around afterward because it is dark. And by morning, she should be happily settled again.

(I also feel that it's not worth letting a hen set on eggs if she is VERY fussy about being disturbed. But that is a matter of personal preference, not something that would apply to everyone.)