Hen on eggs too long

[mamasnowwolf]

Hi all,
I have a hen that has been sitting on eggs maybe since Easter. We had a big rain storm during the last week they were supposed to hatch and the nesting boxes got wet. This bird has not given up on her clutch and yells at you if you go near her. I was told a bird will smell the bad eggs and move from the nest. But I'm worried she isn't giving up. I did toy around with the idea of buying chicks and putting them under her in the middle of the night, but I'm not sure. Especially since our coop leases. We are trying to "fix it" until we get a new one built.
Should we just kick her off the nest and hope for next year, or try getting new chicks. The problem is if she doesn't accept the chicks, I'm not sure I have room in the house for them at this point. Living in CO, it's too wet and cold to leave them outside. I would need a way to care for them. What are your thoughts?

 

[Coops Dad]

You need to either replace the eggs with a couple/few chicks (the younger, the better) or break her broodiness. Being broody takes a lot out of a hen.