Broody on day 16- removing other eggs?

[andreamunroe]

Hi folks, my buff Orpington, Harriet, is sitting on eggs, day 16. I have 5 other hens, and 2 nest boxes, but other hens are laying in her nest box, I usually remove 2 eggs each day. I’ve marked the developing ones, but it is really easy to tell them apart, as they are very different colour and shape (I got fertile barnevelder and silkie cross eggs from a friend).

We’re approaching “lockdown day” and I’ve never hatched eggs, broody or incubator. I’ve read that on day 18, the chicks are moving within the egg To position themselves and that it’s important not to disturb them. Should I just leave her and her nest alone so the developing eggs doesn’t get turned/moved? Or should I lift Harriet off them so I can quickly grab the other eggs?

 

[FortCluck]

You should remove the other eggs. It is not going to hurt anything if you quickly and safely pull the other eggs out. The chicks do position themselves at Day 18, but people have left their turners on throughout Day 1-21 with no ill effects to the chicks.

If you think about it a hen moves her eggs when she shifts herself in the nest. She is never 100% still. There is no possible way for an animal to be still all the time especially when they are sitting on something.