Can hens tell when an egg is bad?

[Oblio13]

I've had a Silky sitting on five big eggs for a couple weeks. Last night she rolled two out of the nest and has apparently abandoned them.

????

 

[Katy]

I haven't let a chicken hen set on eggs for a long time, but I really think my call duck hens can tell. They'll roll an egg out and several times just out of curiousity I've broken them open to see and they've always either been clear or quitters.

 

[MissPrissy]

Candle them.

Hens do know when eggs are bad. They also know when chicks hatch if something is wrong and will kill them for survival of the fittest and keeping the flock strong. It is built in by mother nature.

If you find they are not bad and have living chicks in them mark them and slip them back under her and see what she does.

 

[Oblio13]

Quote:
They're Marans eggs, I can't see a thing. I marked them and slipped them back under.

Wait and see if she keeps throwing them out of her nest is all I know to do.