How long to leave the egg under my broody

[halfpintlc]

So yesterday was day 21 for my broody girl and 5 out of 6 hatched. She is still sitting on the last one, but I am wondering, how long should i leave it with her?

 

[bobbi-j]

I remove unhatched eggs about 24 hours after the first one hatches.

 

[jvls1942]

leave it up to the broodie to decide.
I would give her about 2 days. then she will leave the nest with the hatched ones..
......jiminwisc......

 

[halfpintlc]

Thanks. She has decided to leave the nest with everyone else, will give it a few hours and see what she does, but I feel like it gave up a while ago.

 

[bobbi-j]

Thanks. She has decided to leave the nest with everyone else, will give it a few hours and see what she does, but I feel like it gave up a while ago.

I would just remove it now. Usually when hatching with a broody, all the eggs that are going to hatch will do so within 24 hours of the first one. Those that are late or need help are often weak and don't make it anyway.

 

[halfpintlc]

I would just remove it now. Usually when hatching with a broody, all the eggs that are going to hatch will do so within 24 hours of the first one. Those that are late or need help are often weak and don't make it anyway.

You're right. I think I am just being sentimental. It's our first hatch, so I guess 5 out of 7 isn't too bad.

 

[bobbi-j]

You're right. I think I am just being sentimental. It's our first hatch, so I guess 5 out of 7 isn't too bad.

Not bad at all. They're not all going to hatch every time. Even under a broody. Sometimes they are malpositioned in the egg and can't get out, sometimes they've quit early (did you candle them at all during incubation?), sometimes they are just too weak to get out. In my (probably brutal sounding) opinion, it's Nature's way of weeding out the weak ones. Survival of the fittest and all that...