How long can the hen be off the eggs?

[jockeyeba]

How long can a hen be off her eggs if their within days of the hatching time? Have a hen setting on eggs under our propane tank, found her in the barn looking like something tried to get her + all wet(it's raining & had already rained 2")she went back on the eggs but I have no way of knowing how long she was off of them.....

 

[ninabeast]

Good question. I will be lurking.

:

 

[Barbedwirecat]

They can be off them for awhile, they still need to eat and drink. It takes quite awhile for eggs to cool down enough to effect them (which may give you an extra day or two on hatch) I have heard of them being locked out of their nest for a whole day and still hatch. You should be OK ;D