Big Valentine's Day Surprise!

[Eliz]

First Happy Valentine's Day to all! I have 3 hens and one mean rooster. My hen's nest box as been empty for about a week and a half and I just figured they we all taking a break. I have have not check the box for the last 3 days until today. Well there was 4 eggs in the box and a hen making noise but I could not find the hen at first. The coop is up off the ground about 6 inches. And to my surprise I looked under there to find one of the hens happily laying on a group of warm eggs!!! FOUND THE MISSING EGGS.

This is my first flock and they are all about to be 2 years old and this is the first time any of the hens have gone broody. Obviously the nest was in a very vulnerable location to predators and we decided it was best to more her and the eggs to a brooder pen. I have several question about our broody momma.
1. How many eggs should we let her keep under her?
2. We live in South Georgia but just got snow two days ago. If she was not sitting on the eggs, until today for the first time, did the cold temperatures kill any chance of them hatching?
3. Will she keep them warm and ok by herself through these cold days? (Near or at freezing temps for a few hours one to two nights a week)
Thanks for any help.

 

[Happy Chooks]

1. as many as she can cover.
2. she will keep the eggs plenty warm
3. she will be fine, just make sure there's no drafts

ETA: That's all info I got here, I haven't had a broody yet. Have fun!

 

[chaneg78]

1 Depends on bantam or standard. Bantam about 4 or 5, standard 8 or 9
2 They should be ok if they never completely froze
3 If she is inside a coop out of the weather they will be ok

 

[Eliz]

She is a standard. Sex link actually. I don't think she likes her new accommodations, she was quite unhappy to be locked up but has settled back down on the eggs. She also rolled a few eggs away and out from under her, which was okay because she had about 13 she was trying to lay on. I think we left 9 for her to sit on. As I said I closed her up in the cage, but she has room to get up to defaecate, and food and water also in there with her. I was thinking about giving her a few days of piece in there and then opening it up to see if she will leave her nest. First time mom, she might just be throwing me for a loop. How long before I could candle to see if anything is going on in the eggs? Thank for the information and help.