Broody hen and 5 eggs! First time help!

[Animals32]

Hi there! I'm new and I don't know how to really work on this website, but I think is the right thing. So I have a broody hen, Sweet Pea, and she's sitting on 5 eggs. It's been about 21 days and no piping yet.. This is my first time doing this, and I'm not sure what to do. I candled 3 of the eggs around day 13 and I saw the veins and the chick. I candled the same 3 eggs on day 18 and I saw the air sac, which had grown, and most of the egg was dark. I never candled the other 2 eggs because they're too dark. It's day 21 but I haven't heard any piping. Did the chicks maybe die? Sweet Pea has been doing her best by sitting on them, but throughout the days she gets off and let's the other hens lay their eggs while she eats and dustbathes. Earlier, sweet pea and another of my hens were both on the nest. Is it just the broody hen that can be on the nest or can a different hen be on the nest as well? Thank you if you reply!

 

[Chicken Girl1]

I would post this in the incubating/hatching forum: https://www.backyardchickens.com/f/5/incubating-hatching-eggs . Good luck!

 

[drumstick diva]

 

[Pork Pie]

Hello and welcome to BYC. As long as you have been removing the eggs laid by other hens in her nest, things should be fine. Did you count the first day you put eggs under her as day 1? If so, you are a day early. The day after you set the eggs is day 1.

This thread is likely to be your best go-to place for answers - https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...ody-hen-hatch-a-long-and-informational-thread

You'll find lots of info in the Learning Centre - https://www.backyardchickens.com/atype/1/Learning_Center and if you have a specific topic in mind, just type it in the search box - there's a wealth of information on past and present threads.

You may wish to consider joining your state thread as it will put you in touch with other BYC members in your area - https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/270925/find-your-states-thread#post_3239224

All the best
CT