Good Egg or Bad

[Buff25]

We have 22 Buff Orpingtons. One lady decided to get broody. We left 4 eggs under her a few days ago, and now she has 13 under her. She is gathering the eggs other hens are laying. Should we let her hatch something, or will she eventually get out of her mood? She's been this way for three weeks. At this point, I don't know which eggs are the oldest. What should I do????

 

[jprinc44]

I usually mark the eggs I want them to sit on, so as to keep the others separate. I don't know how long they'll stay broody, but it seems like forever, even the hens I keep taking the eggs away from! I have had hens to hatch guinea eggs, which have to incubate a week longer than chicken eggs, and continue to set on eggs that were laid later than the ones to hatch!! I have pulled them out of the boxes, blocked off the boxes, and closed the coop door trying to break the cycle- to no avail. Good luck! Janet.

 

[dewgrl2511]

I have heard of people who have had to basically put their broodys in jail to break the broody cycle. They have a smaller pen they put the broody hen in and keep her away from the others for a few days.. they said it works like a charm for them to break up a broody hen

 

[Buff25]

Since most of the eggs are at least a week old, should I just pitch them out and then start gathering daily?