brooding?

[jwells84]

so long story shortened.. i have a broody hen who is sitting on eggs. only four eggs left out of 12. i dont think any of the growing chicks survived. she was due to hatch them end of this week. should i go ahead and get rid of eggs or let her sit for a while. how long will she stay broody? if i get her some more eggs would she try again?

 

[Monkeybean415]

I'd candle the remaining eggs and see if they're viable maybe she'll be able to at least hatch one. You could try giving her new eggs as soon as you can and she might stick it out to hatch them but that's almost double the time for a hatch so I'd be prepared with a back up plan incubator if she abandons the nest early. Did you have to buy the eggs? You could consider buying day old chicks and putting them under her around day 21. Keep us updated on your/her progress

 

[jwells84]

These were laid by her. When I candled them I saw no movement. Will probably try to get her to set in chicken coop on some eggs (if she wants them) if not ill just let her do her own thing an hope she starts laying again