hen laying but not setting

[nancymace1967]

hello again yardigans, been awhile since i have been on here. this is my dilemma, my hen Beauty, has layed 5 eggs 2 days ago and 1 yesterday she's not broody and not incubating them. what do I do? I believe they are fertile she lays and then leaves them, returns at night. Again I say this is new to me its been 3 days I haven't touched the eggs they are still out there in her nest. I have read on here and other places that people put eggs under her when she goes broody I am not understanding this process. If she is not setting on them and they are fertilized what can i do to help her along or at least save the eggs til she has a complete clutch,or finally decides to go broody. help please.

 

[Whittni]

If she was broody she wouldn't leave the nest hardly at all. She isn't broody at this point it seems. Since she just started laying her eggs are too small to hatch anyway.

 

[nancymace1967]

so what do i do with the eggs, collect and eat them, and can i store eggs in egg cartons from store bought eggs.