Help! i just found a hidden nest with 21 eggs

[mandy3246]

All my hens and roostets go into the coop at night but I found a hidden nest today with 21 eggs in it. One of my buff orpingtons goes missing everyday. But she roosts with the others at night. I'm assuming she's sitting on the eggs during the day but I'm not positive. I'll check tomorrow now that I know where the nest is but my question is that if she is not laying on them at night can they still hatch?

 

[12 gauge]

well she maybe about to start laying on them since there is so many. And if they are not to old they may hatch. so if it was me I would leave them there

 

[trailrider330]

At this point it does not sound as though your hen is broody. She may be sitting on the eggs long enough to lay another egg each day, but if she is not on them 24/7, they are not going to maintain the temperature and humidity they need to develop. Any chance any other hens are laying eggs there as well? Typically, eggs more than 10 days old will never develop even if they are consistently sat on, so what you end up with is a big stinky, rotten mess. Feel free to candle them if you want, but you may just want to throw them all away and block off the area so she/they can not lay there anymore.

 

[mandy3246]

At this point it does not sound as though your hen is broody.  She may be sitting on the eggs long enough to lay another egg each day, but if she is not on them 24/7, they are not going to maintain the temperature and humidity they need to develop.  Any chance any other hens are laying eggs there as well?  Typically, eggs more than 10 days old will never develop even if they are consistently sat on, so what you end up with is a big stinky, rotten mess.  Feel free to candle them if you want, but you may just want to throw them all away and block off the area so she/they can not lay there anymore.  

I'm sure there's more than one hen laying eggs in the nest because I did notice two to three different shades of brown eggs. I'll watch her tomorrow and candle them. I'll keep you posted. Thanks for the advice.

 

[mandy3246]

...

well she maybe about to start

well she maybe about to start laying on them since there is so many. And if they are not to old they may hatch. so if it was me I would leave them there

laying on them since there is so many. And if they are not to old they may hatch. so if it was me I would leave them there
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I think there may be two to three hens laying in that nest because there are two to three different shades of brown eggs in there. I'll be home most of the day tomorrow so I will definitely see more of what's going on. Thanks for the advice!

 

[Pork Pie]

As trailrider330 suggested - your hen is not broody and the eggs will not develop.

 

[donrae]

If she's not sitting on them at night, she's not broody and they're not developing. she's just found a good spot to lay.