I have a first time broody hen I put 9 eggs under (I don't have a rooster) 2 days ago. She sat on them consistently for 36+ hrs. When I got home today I found she had flown over the fence and back to her old coop and was sitting on some unfertilized eggs laid by other hens. She may have been off the eggs for 8hrs - are they still viable? One of the eggs I had put under her was broken - is she eating eggs? Broken it accidentally?
Should I lock her in the coop with food & water until I'm sure she'll stay with the eggs, taking her out only under supervision? Should I put new eggs under her just in case these ones aren't viable?
Should I lock her in the coop with food & water until I'm sure she'll stay with the eggs, taking her out only under supervision? Should I put new eggs under her just in case these ones aren't viable?
