Broody chicken left the eggs

[emily_chickenlover]

Help!!! Our chicken left the eggs alone for 4-6 hours, and they got cold-ish. Is there any chance of the eggs developing if we put them under another broody chicken? Or will the eggs be already dead?

 

[DobieLover]

Did the hen not come back at all? If she did come back, I would let her keep them but would confine her to her nest so that only you can remove her and monitor her broody breaks. That way you know she won't do that again.

Is the second broody hens eggs on the same day of development? You don't want to have a staggered hatch.

 

[Perris]

the eggs will not already be dead. I have had broodies leave the nest for as long as that on multiple days during the first week, and the eggs/ chicks were fine. If the weather is a bit extreme temperature-wise where you are, that may not apply.