hens setting day 21 no babies?? what do I do>

[cgjsmith]

The hens have been setting for 21 days now and not one hatched pipped or anything. There was a huge pile of eggs under them so I have no idea what to do. should I candle? pull the eggs out and toss them? what do i do in their place? should i buy some of the wooden eggs? do i have to break their broodiness (one just went broody a week ago.) I have plenty of big fresh eggs i could put underthem just so they have some babies eventually. but should they sit for another 32 days or is that detramental to their health. i have some eggs in the bator going on day 15 I could move a few of them over to the hens. What to do?
I can't belive not one of those eggs hatched. I have 3 roo's in that pen so I know one of them should have gotten the job done. Crystal

 

[Poison Ivy]

Maybe wait a few more days? maybe they are not ready just yet?

 

[kstaven]

Hens do not start incubating until they have enough eggs in the nest. So she may have had eggs in the nest for 21 days but they may only be on day 11 or so of incubation.

 

[cgjsmith]

ok so I went outside to try and check on eggs. I can't getanywhere near them without them taking chunks out of my hands ha ha. one of the hens (there were three of them in one box) ms. Cackle decided to find a new nest and she did. Shes setting on 5 or 6 more eggs. Crystal

 

[tiffanyh]

I would agree that somehow you need to candle them to know where they are for sure...even though it can be tough to tell what day your on...

 

[silkiechicken]

Yeah, you should candle them and make sure the hen sits on the same eggs in the same nest. Else you'll have tons of half developed chicks and the hens will eventually give up. Good luck.

-Diana