Day 24 advice

[paddyg84]

Out of 6 eggs I gave my broody only one has shown to be viable. Today is day 24 and I'm not holding out much hope. What stage should I give up on it. Any advice on getting my hen out of being broody? Would it be cruel to.give her more eggs and let her sit on?

 

[paddyg84]

.

 

[boomchicken]

Sorry no one has replied yet. I'm no expert.

If you heard cheeping at some point and the sounds stopped I'd say it's a bad sign. Stinky egg, bad sign. Candle it? does it look clear or clearer than at a previous candling... bad sign.

There is a lot of good advice about dealing with a broody hen on the forums.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/868245/why-do-you-break-a-broody-hen
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/181289/how-to-break-a-broody-hen
...etc. I went to forums search and typed "breaking broody"... kinda like Breaking Bad but not as awesome.

 

[paddyg84]

Thanks for the reply. Well I haven't heard any cheeping but where she is its hard to hear anything as there's a pigeon and starling nest nearby that have plenty of cheeps. I candled on day 21 and it's completely dark with no visible air gap. Perhaps she used.up the air gap and died. Thanks for the links, I didn't no before how to search for info like that.

 

[boomchicken]

candled on day 21 and it's completely dark with no visible air gap. Perhaps she used.up the air gap and died.

That makes sense. Sorry it didn't hatch.