Broody hen - first timer

[NursexNikki]

Hi everyone!
We just had our first brooding experience with our hen “Mamas” the past 3 weeks. What we didn’t realize until later on was that other hens were giving her their eggs and she was adding them to her clutch under her...so she ended up with eggs being placed in her pile at all different times, therefore we don’t know which ones will be expected to hatch or not. On day 21 the first chick hatched, day 22 another, day 23 another and day 24 another one. She still won’t get up from her eggs. I can’t tell what’s fertile or not with candling as we have some dark egg colors and I can’t seem to get the technique right. Can we just allow her to continue sitting on the eggs, or should we remove them? I’m just worried to remove any that are close to hatching... thanks!

 

[JacinLarkwell]

Candle them, and remove any that aren't dark. You don't have to open them, just leave them somewhere that birds or other animals will take them. Or bury them. Place food and water within reach for her