Broody hen not so broody!!!!

[Bryam]

Hello!
I have a hen that started sitting on eggs for 9 hours, then while I was at work, she got off the nest and never went back. The eggs sat out on the cage for several hours, they got cold. When I got home, I popped them into my incubator, do you think they are still viable?

Thank for your advice! ☺

 

[chuckachucka]

How cold was it during the hours they were out there? I don't have experience with this but I've read a lot of posts about this before and most people have had good success with eggs that have been chilled for a few hours. As long as they weren't freezing and it wasn't more than 12 hours the hatch rate should be good. The longer they go without the proper heat, the lower the chances.

 

[Altfrizzle]

I think it also has to do with whether she sat on them long enough for them to start development, too.

I have a hen that has just gone broody, and for the days prior she spent a good deal of time on the eggs but then got off them and left them. Now she's sitting tight. I have the idea that she was keeping them warm enough to keep them from freezing but not on them long enough for them to start development, until she had the "right" number.

I'll know more in a few days when I can candle.

 

[theoldchick]

I had a broody hen who was a whacko. Off and on. Off and on. So I took her eggs to my hatching lady who popped them in her incubator. Every dang one of them hatched. We both were stunned.

 

[Bryam]

I have them in the incubator and well see develops..