broody hen, how much longer??

[thebanthams]

My hen has been sitting on 12 eggs, I think they are all dud eggs, maybe not fertilized . How much longer will she sit until she give up? they reason I ask, I was thinking about putting different eggs under her.Should I try? She is being a very serious mother !.

 

[pek]

How long has she been sitting on them for? If it is more than 21 days I would put the other eggs under her.
Good luck!

 

[J-Sanders]

Silly question, but you do have a rooster right? Are the eggs beginning to smell off?

Jim

 

[thebanthams]

Yes I have a rooster and 7 hens, this Broody hen was never mated ! she a surrogate mother! She was already sitting on the eggs so I have no way of knowing which eggs goes with who? In another pen I have silkie rooster and hens, I took their eggs and put it under her ! By the way she is a Buff orphinton. I hope she will have "something" soon!

 

[thebanthams]

Its now possible 22 days, I am giving her two more days or so then throw the eggs away.

 

[Silkies~Polishes]

Have you candled the eggs. If they are fertilized by now they will be just a dark shape taking up the whole egg. If earlier in developement(about day 14) they will be smaller and you can see veins and possibly feet kicking. If when still candling and the light goes right through the egg and you don't see anything then the egg is not fertilized. It's super easy to tell which is or isn't fertilized. Just search on google fertile chicken eggs to see. Sorry if you know this stuff already! I'm just assuming since you are saying you don't know if they are fertilized that you have not tried candling them in a dark room

 

[thebanthams]

I didnt think about candling, I just kind of left her alone ! shes a meanie if I go near her !! I will do that tonight. I was hoping I will have a surprised chickie but it didnt happen !, the next eggs hope it will !!

 

[thebanthams]

I threw away eggs, some never developed, few blood rings, and two were very dark like theres something, but it really dont look good! She still wants to keep going, so I slipped in 6 more eggs (silkies) due Sept 19th

 

[Silkies~Polishes]

Noooooo the very dark one were almost hatched! In like a few days! Only throw them away if there is nothing in there and the light shines brightly through. Like we're your eggs completely dark except for the air sac on one end? If so they were fertile. Did you crack any open if you were doubtful?

 

[Silkies~Polishes]

But at.east maybe youll have silkie chicks! I love my silkie! She's the favorite of the family. What colors do you have