Hen left eggs

[tdkmom]

Ok now I'm talking a Mallard hen here but I think anyone who has hatched eggs can answer the question. We weren't really planning to try to hatch any of our eggs but a friend wanted some babies. So we decided to let the eggs in the box to see if either of the hens would sit. Well she laid 6 and started to sit. We can see the veining in them and they look to be about 5-7 days into incubation. BUT yesterday she got off of them and sat on some chicken eggs instead and this morning she is back onto her own eggs. My son removed all chicken eggs so she doesn't have anything else to sit on - will hers still incubate?

ETA: We know she has been sitting on them almost nonstop all other days.

 

[Hillbilly Hen]

Sounds like she got confused as to which nest was hers. I had a hen do that and I just gently moved her to where she belonged. I would just let her continue to sit on the eggs and see what happens. Maybe it will be fine. Good luck.

 

[tdkmom]

I hope that's it. She was in the next box over so that's possible. I did pick her up and set her back on hers and she was ticked at me. She used her bill to check the eggs and then settled back down. Thanks!

 

[zazouse]

She should , she is just confused , my hens and ducks are always getting back on the wrong nest after a break, most of the time because another is laying in their nest when break time is over.

Broodies will sit on anything once they get goingLOL

Good luck on your hatch.

 

[tdkmom]

Thank you for the post. It makes me feel better. She was sitting in the box right beside hers and there was a chicken egg mixed in with hers so that makes a lot of sense.

Thank you both!