When I finally realized our hen was broody and not just weird I counted 12 eggs under her. From that day I calendared out when we could expect chicks realizing that she'd been sitting awhile before I realized it and I could expect chicks earlier. Well last night we went out and candled the eggs. Somehow she got 15 developing eggs under her and 2 that weren't which we tossed. The thing is if my calendaring was correct we could expect chicks in 2 days. The eggs aren't nearly that developed. Have they all stopped developing and should be thrown out?
No, let 'em go. I think momma knows what she's doing. And even if she's off a little, I like to see them try. Besides, even though it says 21 days for "normal" hatch date, it can take up to 23. So between not really knowing when they were started and a flexible hatch time, I would just leave her alone. That's just me. If my Silkie were a little older, I'd use her instead of an incubator, though it is lovely to hatch 42 at one time (for a Little Giant). Good luck! The hardest part is ALWAYS the waiting!
