Day 20 with a broody hen

[jessicachick23]

My little bantam hen has been faithfully sitting on her collection of eggs from herself and the other hens for now 20 days. I come check on her a few times a day and give her food and water. When she got off her eggs for a quick break earlier, I did not notice anything new about them. They look normal. They were all placed at the same time. Should I be concerned?

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Why would you be concerned? A hen will normally get off the nest once a day to eat, drink defecate and dust bathe. Sometimes less often. You don't have to dote over them, just keep feed and water available. If it has been exactly 20 days and the eggs are fresh and fertile, she likely won't get off the nest again till hatch because she'll be retaining humidity.

 

[jessicachick23]

Why would you be concerned? A hen will normally get off the nest once a day to eat, drink defecate and dust bathe. Sometimes less often. You don't have to dote over them, just keep feed and water available. If it has been exactly 20 days and the eggs are fresh and fertile, she likely won't get off the nest again till hatch because she'll be retaining humidity.

This is my first time trying to hatch eggs I have just been reading posts about the chicks pipping on day 20 and didn’t see anything. Thank you for the information.

 

[khind]

Why would you be concerned? A hen will normally get off the nest once a day to eat, drink defecate and dust bathe. Sometimes less often. You don't have to dote over them, just keep feed and water available. If it has been exactly 20 days and the eggs are fresh and fertile, she likely won't get off the nest again till hatch because she'll be retaining humidity.

Do you know approximately what day the broody hen decides to stay put til hatch? - my hen is on either day 16 or 18, and I'm just trying to be prepared for what to expect.

 

[aart]

@jessicachick23 hear any peeps coming from under that broody yet?
One of the downsides to using a broody instead of an incubator is you can't watch the hatching....just need to be patient and wait with bated breath and ears.

 

[jessicachick23]

@jessicachick23 hear any peeps coming from under that broody yet?
One of the downsides to using a broody instead of an incubator is you can't watch the hatching....just need to be patient and wait with bated breath and ears.

Nothing has appeared to change. I checked on her a couple hours ago and she got up for a moment to eat so I was able to see the eggs and they just look like normal.

 

[aart]

Nothing has appeared to change. I checked on her a couple hours ago and she got up for a moment to eat so I was able to see the eggs and they just look like normal.

Do you know the date she started setting, and have you done any candling?
I assume you have a male in the flock so the eggs are fertile?

 

[jessicachick23]

Do you know the date she started setting, and have you done any candling?
I assume you have a male in the flock so the eggs are fertile?

Feb 25 she started. I did candle about 13 days in and saw movement. I had a rooster and rehomed him 2 days ago.

 

[aart]

Feb 25 she started. I did candle about 13 days in and saw movement. I had a rooster and rehomed him 2 days ago.

Were all the eggs given to her on the 25th?
I'd wait another day, then candle.

 

[jessicachick23]

Were all the eggs given to her on the 25th?
I'd wait another day, then candle.

Yes, all eggs were placed on the same day. I just candled and one was moving around inside