I have my first broody hen ever right now. I noticed her setting, but wasn't sure the eggs were fertile. I put some shipped eggs under her a week ago yesterday. I left the 4 original eggs just in case. Well, today one hatched- one of her eggs, that is. What now? Do you think she'll abandon the rest of the eggs?
Yep, if you don't remove the chicks she'll stop sitting on the "dud" eggs to care for the ones that hatched. You can either remove the shipped eggs and put them in the bator or remove the chicks and put them in the brooder.
She will leave the nest within 24-36 hours. That's nature's way. If you remove the chicks immediately, she may continue setting. If she can hear them, she'll quit setting.
