How long will a broody hen set for?

[Aae]

I have five eggs under my broody, they're late. It's day 24/25 for the eggs.

If the eggs are bad (I will float and candle them soon) and I give her fresh eggs to start over, will she set for another 21 days?

 

[Baby_the_duckling]

I have five eggs under my broody, they're late. It's day 24/25 for the eggs.

If the eggs are bad (I will float and candle them soon) and I give her fresh eggs to start over, will she set for another 21 days?

What breed is she?

 

[song of joy]

Broody-incubated eggs usually hatch around day 20 or 21, so I'd be concerned about how late they are.

Some hens may continue to set for another 21 days, but it's the exception rather than the norm. It really depends on the hen. I'd expect most to give up by day 30 or so.

 

[Aae]

What breed is she?

Easter Egger

 

[Baby_the_duckling]

Can you upload a picture of her?

 

[Jbently28]

I had a hen sit for almost 40 days and then quit sitting 2 days after she finally had a successful hatch. I truly believed she would have set longer if she hadn't of had a chick hatch. But she was getting to the point where I was about to break her from sitting because you could tell it was taking a toll on her. I had another hen of the same kind and same age that only sat for a week and then abandoned the nest. Those eggs were transfered to my previously mentioned hen. It really just depends on the hen. Just make sure that it doesn't take a toll on her healthwise. I have a Turkey en that will literally sit for months if I let her.

 

[sawilliams]

I had 1 sit almost 3 full months last year when we moved. Partly due to my own choice not to break her during the moving process for fear I wouldn't beable to keep an eye on her, and i didn't have fertile eggs. Plus the chance of moving to close to hatch. I thought for sure the move its self would break her about about 2 weeks after we moved she was still broody so i finally got 2 fertile eggs from a friend and in the end she hatch 1 beautiful little chick.