Broody Hen’s eggs not hatching! Help!

[Compton Chickens]

My cuckoo Karan hen went broody about 4 weeks ago, and her eggs aren’t hatching. I don’t think they are going to hatch, but she is still sitting on them. Should I take away her eggs? I need help!

 

[Tonyroo]

Were they all set at the same time?
4 weeks is way over due, grab an egg off her and open it to see what happened.

 

[rosemarythyme]

If you'd like her to raise chicks, I'd check around your local farm stores to see if anyone has newly arrived chicks, and swap out eggs for a few chicks.

 

[SilverBirds]

Have you candled the eggs at all?

 

[Compton Chickens]

I had another hen go broody a week before her so I have chicks. I will try to swipe an egg from her.

 

[SilverBirds]

I had another hen go broody a week before her so I have chicks. I will try to swipe an egg from her.

Have you candled any of the eggs so far?

 

[Compton Chickens]

Have you candled any of the eggs so far?

No I haven’t

 

[SilverBirds]

No I haven’t

Candle the eggs and see if you see any movement or veining.

 

[bobbi-j]

After 4 weeks, those eggs aren’t going to hatch. If you do decide to open any, make sure you’re outdoors and upwind. Chicks from your other broody will be too old to give to your hen. I would take the eggs from her and remove her from the nest if you don’t have access to any (less than a week old) babies for her. After 4 weeks, she needs to get off that nest.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

This may be a stupid question, but how likely is it that the eggs were fertile?