I ordered some eggs on ebay for my broody hen. Gave them to her on the 8th. She didn't sit on them very well to start and I found them cool next to her the next day. After that she was excellent and stayed on them nicely. (I love see her check them and tuck them under more). Anyway now it is the 1st. No chicks yet. I never candled just left her alone. How long should I leave them sitting on them? How do I break her broodiness now if no chicks? Is it unhealthy for her if I try to get some local fertilized eggs and give her another shot? What is the best thing I can do and how long do I wait before I do it?!?! thanks Cochin fan
If she didn;t start to sit them for a bit maybe they are delayed. Sometimes they can be late if the temperature was low. If she kept getting up etc. I wouldn;t give up just yet. Usually a hen can tell if an egg is fertile - they eat the ones that are not or throw them out of the nest. Leave her for another say 4/5 days and then look again. I had two chicks hatch a full week after they were due so don;t panic just yet. Oesdog - Leave her alone and don;t disterb her and see what happens? She will give up and leave the nest herself if no chicks. Give her plenty of treat tobiuld her up and lots of love - nothing more you can do! Hope you get some chicks. Another thing you could do is buy day old live chicks and at night swap the dead eggs for live chicks. - that sometimes works.
So, hen started sitting on 7/8 - it's now 8/2 - should I give up? Do hens really know if their eggs are worth sitting on? Will she just keep sitting forever if I let her? I'm stimied!! I guess I will look for some day old chicks. Could I get chicks that are older than that for her? So many questions, I know but she is my very favorite chicken and this brooding seems like it has been hard on her. I'd like it to be worth her while. What should I do?? thanks, Cochinfan
