encourage hen to sit

[trudyg]

I'm trying to get one of the hens to sit. there are 11 eggs in the nest. I was marking them and one of the girls threw a fit because I was messing with them. Today, when I was removing the unmarked, all of the eggs were hot, as if a hen had been sitting on them, but every time I look outside they're all out, so no one is sitting. How long do I leave these eggs if no one starts sitting so they don't rot?

 

[ChickenCanoe]

What breed? You can't make them be broody and for most breeds, they will never do it.
The unwashed eggs can still be good for a long time but after a week to 10 days, the likelihood of them hatching becomes close to nil.

 

[50-45-1]

Leaving eggs in a nest box will result in rotten eggs, broken eggs, and a mess.
This mess could also start egg eating in some situations.
Put golf balls or fake eggs in the nest boxes and start saving your hatching eggs AFTER you deffinatly have a dedicated broody hen.
Not every hen will go broody.
Some breeds almost never do.

 

[trudyg]

I don't know the breeds. I know I have one buff orpington and my roo is a cuckoo marans. Four are Red Rangers. Then I have 3 black ones and no clue what they are. The youngest black one is the one that went broody last year and she was the one screaming when I was marking the eggs, so I have my fingers crossed. If no one is sitting for sure after tomorrow, I'll pull them and put in the 2 ceramic eggs I used last time. Thanks.

 

[trudyg]

I just removed all but 3 of the eggs I marked, as well as the newly laid eggs, and put in 2 ceramic eggs. We'll see if someone wants to sit on them.