How long to let a hen keep sitting on her eggs

[MedicJeff25]

My hen is brooding for the first time and it’s my first time letting one hatch her own chicks. My problem is that I’m not exactly sure of the date she started sitting on them. I’m pretty sure it’s been over 3 weeks now but there aren’t any signs of pipping yet. I’ve candled them and they all appear to have chicks in them. How long should I wait? Or will she just stop sitting on them when she realizes they’re not going to hatch? She pushed two eggs out of the nest early on which I’m assuming means they weren’t fertilized but I’m not sure. Help?

 

[ChickenCanoe]

I assume you have a rooster. Since you don't know when she started, don't give up. If they are her eggs, they all started the same time because she won't lay more after she starts sitting. Another possibility is that other hens will volunteer eggs after she starts every time she leaves the nest. That causes a protracted hatch which rarely ends well.

 

[Anon112]

I would keep waiting. I've told this story before, but I thought my hen maybe had eggs that weren't going to hatch. Panicked on day 27 and got her some chicks from the store. Took her "bad" eggs once she left the nest to care for the chicks and from one of the eggs: "PEEP!". I ran in and put them in the incubator and two of the three hatched!

It's true that at a certain point, it's not good for the hen. Do you know how many eggs she's sitting on? Have you marked them in any way to make sure eggs aren't still being added?

If you are very concerned about your hen's health after another 5 or 6 days, you could consider moving the eggs to an incubator.

But my main advice is to wait. My hen's eggs technically hatched on day 28.

 

[Ridgerunner]

My problem is that I’m not exactly sure of the date she started sitting on them.

Do you have a date that you know for sure that she was sitting on them? It doesn't have to be the day she started, just a day that you are sure she was sitting. Give her 25 days after that.

Before a hen even starts laying eggs she stores excess fat in her pelvic region. That fat is what she mostly lives on while incubating the eggs so she does not have to be off looking for food and water. They can usually go for much more than five weeks before they use up that fat. She is not going to hurt herself by staying on the eggs a few extra days.

I understand your frustration and concern but she will not hurt herself if she goes a couple of extra weeks.

Good luck!

 

[MedicJeff25]

Do you have a date that you know for sure that she was sitting on them? It doesn't have to be the day she started, just a day that you are sure she was sitting. Give her 25 days after that.

Before a hen even starts laying eggs she stores excess fat in her pelvic region. That fat is what she mostly lives on while incubating the eggs so she does not have to be off looking for food and water. They can usually go for much more than five weeks before they use up that fat. She is not going to hurt herself by staying on the eggs a few extra days.

I understand your frustration and concern but she will not hurt herself if she goes a couple of extra weeks.

Good luck!

Thank you for the advice! I know for sure she was sitting on July 11. I think she was before then but not 100% sure. I’ll just leave her and see what happens.

 

[Perris]

As others have, I recommend being patient. And I would add, leave her and the eggs alone; curiosity killed the cat, as they say, and can kill chicks. The last 3 days of artificial incubation are called 'lockdown' because the eggs are no longer turned, and are just left alone in a stable conducive environment (temperature and humidity as well as orientation) to hatch. The broody will be trying to create and maintain such conditions under her, and moving her or her eggs will disrupt it. So just sit on your hands and do something else, or watch from a distance. Or prep for chicks: have you got a suitable sized waterer and appropriate food ready for (the broody as well as) the chicks?

 

[MedicJeff25]

I assume you have a rooster. Since you don't know when she started, don't give up. If they are her eggs, they all started the same time because she won't lay more after she starts sitting. Another possibility is that other hens will volunteer eggs after she starts every time she leaves the nest. That causes a protracted hatch which rarely ends well.

Thank you for the reply. Yes, I have a rooster and one other hen (I’m just getting started with my flock). I’ve hatched eggs before using an incubator but this is my first time having a hen do it. I’ve been checking everyday and they are her eggs (4 of them). My other hens lays daily in a diffeeent nest box and her eggs are significantly larger than the one that’s sitting so I know they’re all hers.

 

[MedicJeff25]

As others have, I recommend being patient. And I would add, leave her and the eggs alone; curiosity killed the cat, as they say, and can kill chicks. The last 3 days of artificial incubation are called 'lockdown' because the eggs are no longer turned, and are just left alone in a stable conducive environment (temperature and humidity as well as orientation) to hatch. The broody will be trying to create and maintain such conditions under her, and moving her or her eggs will disrupt it. So just sit on your hands and do something else, or watch from a distance. Or prep for chicks: have you got a suitable sized waterer and appropriate food ready for (the broody as well as) the chicks?

Waiting and doing nothing is definitely the most difficult part! I do have food and starter food ready and. I’ve moved the rooster and other hen so once the chicks hatch they won’t be bothered by the other adults.

 

[Perris]

Waiting and doing nothing is definitely the most difficult part! I do have food and starter food ready

Jolly good! The broody will need to eat well to restore condition afterwards, whatever happens with the hatch.

I’ve moved the rooster and other hen so once the chicks hatch they won’t be bothered by the other adults

I've not found this necessary, but if you do want to keep them separate, be aware that you'll need to organise integration later. Other flock members are naturally curious about the new arrivals, and if they are allowed to meet at the start, they consider everyone family.