First time letting a broody hatch and I screwed up!

[WhenInRhome]

One of my Buff Orpingtons is broody often. I decided to let her have a few days worth of eggs and try to raise some babies I had good intentions. I marked the eggs with a pencil. Well my 10 year old did while I held Pumpkin (the mama). She did not mark them very well. When I collected eggs after that I would check under Pumpkin to make sure no extra eggs were laid in that nest while she was eating. It is the favorite nest box. I carefully checked every day. Then I got busy with sick kids and school events so I did not check for a few days. I had never found an extra in there so I thought it was ok. I checked today while I freshened up the pine chips in the nest boxes and there are 7 extra eggs I have no idea when they were laid. The first batch she started sitting on was April 2. Today is day 16. The new eggs are from sometime in the last 6 days.

When the first set hatches will abandon the other eggs? If she has too many under her will they all be warm enough? Earlier today before I realized she had too many eggs I saw two that were not under her all the way and were cool. She started with 11 eggs, now she has 18. Is that too many for one mama to sit on?

 

[goofychickens]

When the first set hatches, simply put them in a brooder with a heat lamp and have Pumpkin sit on the other eggs until they hatch. If the ones you didn't put under her are unfertilized, don't worry. They won't hatch. If they are, do as I told you earlier. If you have any other questions, I am willing to answer.
-Goofy

 

[WhenInRhome]

Will she miss her babies that already hatched? Will she remember them?

All of the eggs are fertilized so that shouldnt be a problem.


Is it ok to move the mama at this point? Our nesting boxes are a foot off the floor so I wanted to move her into a private suite (chicken tractor) before they hatched.

 

[WhenInRhome]

omg When we were cooking breakfast this morning we cracked an eggs that had been growing. I guess it had gotten pushed out of the nest and my kids grabbed it.

My worst nightmare came true. Seriously, I am never letting he hens out of their run again. It is the neighbor rooster hooking up with them. No more!!!!

 

[goofychickens]

Will she miss her babies that already hatched? Will she remember them?

All of the eggs are fertilized so that shouldnt be a problem.


Is it ok to move the mama at this point? Our nesting boxes are a foot off the floor so I wanted to move her into a private suite (chicken tractor) before they hatched.

She won't miss her old chicks because she will have others. Be careful moving her, though. You can if you trust yourself. Sorry about the whole "neighbor rooster" thing. Any more questions?

 

[donrae]

If you ever decide to go the broody hen route again.....I mark my eggs with a sharpie. I draw 2-3 circles all the way around the egg, so it's clearly visible from any direction. That way it's easy to see any "donated" eggs, and prevents an

like you had at breakfast.