Finally have a broody hen

[Tradarcher]

Hi , im still relatively new to keeping chickens but I have been hoping my birchen Cochin would go broody and she finally has. My question is that she waited to start sitting over a week after some of the eggs had been laid. How long can a egg stay viable before she starts the sit ?

 

[Kiki]

The best thing to do is to candle the eggs to see if they have "started".
Welcome to BYC and congrats on your broody.

 

[chickens really]

They should be fine....They all lay eggs first and then start setting.....You can candle them if you want at around 9 days of setting...You should then see veins and the tiny embryos....
Congrats.....