Broody hen

[Whitplusfive]

Our broody hen (Betsy) has been doing great so far. We have had 8 chicks hatch and are doing wonderful. I decided to move her with the chicks last night to a different area. When I woke up this morning the eggs that haven’t hatched were in a different spot and cold to the touch. Is she telling me these eggs are bad? Should I try to give the eggs to another hen to lay on and see if they will hatch. Or is it to late?

 

[sourland]

It's normal for a hen to leave the nest within 24 to 36 hours of the first chick hatching. This is why staggered hatches are generally disastrous. The moving of her and the chicks spurred the instinct to leave the eggs. They may still be viable, but will have to be incubated if they are to hatch.

 

[bobbi-j]

How long ago did the other chicks hatch? If all the eggs were started at the same time, all that are going to hatch generally do so within 24 hours of the first one hatched.