Broody hen

[3na]

I need help...I have a broody hen and it's been 10 days, did an initial candling of her eggs and it seems most of the eggs are empty...I have new fertilised eggs is it okay to switch the old eggs to the new ones at this stage of her broodiness?

Thanks for any help!!

 

[Ilovemychicks08]

I need help...I have a broody hen and it's been 10 days, did an initial candling of her eggs and it seems most of the eggs are empty...I have new fertilised eggs is it okay to switch the old eggs to the new ones at this stage of her broodiness?

Thanks for any help!!

I think it would be ok, i have never hatched but hope to soon, and i have heard broodies will hatch any egg at any age

 

[fluffycrow]

Yes, it's should be fine, but there really are no guarantees. Every broody is different

 

[MountainWoman73]

Yeah, if you switch all of them it should be fine. You wouldn't want eggs at different stages, but sounds like you know that. I have had a hen sit for 40 days before because none of her first clutch worked out.

 

[3na]

Yes, it's should be fine, but there really are no guarantees. Every broody is different

i know it's a Black Australorp hen and it's her first time to become broody so i'm a bit hesitant to switch the eggs...I've been through a lot of Broody hens before and this is the first time that none of the eggs are fertile and i don't want to waste the broody hens time or try to break her out of her broodiness...Thanks for your advise...

 

[3na]

Yeah, if you switch all of them it should be fine. You wouldn't want eggs at different stages, but sounds like you know that. I have had a hen sit for 40 days before because none of her first clutch worked out.

Really 40 days? Wow!! I'll give it a couple of more days if there is really no signs then I might switch the eggs... Thank you so much...

 

[5Australorpasaures]

If your set on wanting her to hatch eggs you do it. If it doesn't work you learned something. You may have the option of trying again in the future. When it comes to fur and feathers there are never set in stone guarantees.

 

[MountainWoman73]

Really 40 days? Wow!! I'll give it a couple of more days if there is really no signs then I might switch the eggs... Thank you so much...

No, to be clear, I threw out her first batch because they were all dead, and then she sat for another 21 days until she hatched the second fresh batch. But she didn't take a break or anything.

 

[fluffycrow]

Brooding takes a toll on the hens body. Don't let her go on until she hatches. If the new eggs you give her turn out to be infertile as well, best thing you can do for her is break her, she's still young

 

[Shadrach]

I need help...I have a broody hen and it's been 10 days, did an initial candling of her eggs and it seems most of the eggs are empty...I have new fertilised eggs is it okay to switch the old eggs to the new ones at this stage of her broodiness?

Thanks for any help!!

Are these new fertilised eggs from the broody hen and her rooster?
A lot depends on how well the broody hen takes care of herself. Some are better at it than others.
Ideally the broody hen should get off the nest every day to poop, eat, drink and dustbathe. How long they can be off the nest depends on the ambient temperature at the nest site usually.
Some people confine the hen to the nest and supply food and water. I much prefer to allow the hen to come and go as she pleases and if your nest and keeping arrangement allows for this, I would consider what might amount to a 30 day plus sit in total reasonable.

If your hen is confined to her nest then I would consider waiting until the next time she goes broody and try again.