How long can chicken be off of eggs?

[Jmiller89]

Accidentally locked chicken out of her coop and she was off eggs for at least an hour. Are they dead now? How long can they be off?

 

[Shadrach]

Accidentally locked chicken out of her coop and she was off eggs for at least an hour. Are they dead now? How long can they be off?

You should be okay. They can be off their nests here for up to three hours and chicks still hatch. There is some temperature dependence so if you're somewhere where it's well below zero you may have problems.

 

[aroostercalledBrownie]

You should be okay. They can be off their nests here for up to three hours and chicks still hatch. There is some temperature dependence so if you're somewhere where it's well below zero you may have problems.

@Shadrach is absolutely right. One of my hens once returned to her nest 48 hours after she left, and 8/10 chicks still hatched.

 

[Jmiller89]

Thanks, we only have a week to go and to loose them at this point would just stink. We will keep her on the eggs and see what happens

 

[Jmiller89]

Both chicks hatched! Glad I didn’t take the eggs away.

 

[aroostercalledBrownie]

Both chicks hatched! Glad I didn’t take the eggs away.

Congrats!