can 9 eggs incubated In an incubator to day 11 go under a just broody hen? will she lock down?

[silkienrescues]

Hi
The 9 eggs are at day 11, 2 have air cells that are a bit too big, they are quite porous eggs. My silkie hen has just gone broody (4 days ago- so seems determined to sit). Will the hen know when to 'lockdown'?

regards
Lea

 

[nchls school]

Hi
The 9 eggs are at day 11, 2 have air cells that are a bit too big, they are quite porous eggs. My silkie hen has just gone broody (4 days ago- so seems determined to sit). Will the hen know when to 'lockdown'?

regards
Lea

This spring I took eggs from a incubator at day 14-16 and put them under a broody hen. All went well; every egg hatched and the hen was a great mom even though she brooded only a week.

 

[silkienrescues]

Thank you Nchls school,
Hens never cease to amaze. I wonder how the eggs communicate they are about to hatch 3 days before doing so. This is Margaret's first time going broody, so probably best she only has to sit for a bit over a week. Poor thing had another hen sitting on her head yesterday, yet she didn't give up.