How long will a hen set?

[chic_a_lay]

How long will a hen set if her eggs don't hatch? Will they break the "trance" and get off the nest? I don't think any of her eggs are viable any more according to my count she's overdue? What should I do?

 

[gamebirdsonly]

I have had some hens that would just keep on setting even when there is no eggs. So it depends on the hen.
But if you think the eggs are no good I would get rid of them and place some more under her.

 

[bobbi-j]

If they're no longer viable, can you get some chicks (less than a week old) to put under her? I would not put more eggs under her as that would have her setting for another 3 weeks. Being broody is hard on them as they lose condition while they're brooding.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

I agree with @bobbi-j iether get her chicks (5 days is my oldest so far) and stick under her at night or go ahead and break her. Sitting too long is detrimental to their health and I've had girls sit longer than a month on air until I broke them, before I knew better. Elevated, wire bottom cage. Sometimes one day, sometimes 5 depending on the hen. You can test by letting them out. But if still clucking, they are still broody.

DO NOT place more eggs under her.. chances are she is already shaky from hardly moving around, muscles get stiff and weak. And they lose weight as well.

If you want to you can share your count situation and see if we agree... but you probably know. Did you actually candle at any point to see if the eggs were viable?

 

[chic_a_lay]

I did candle them on May 8. It seemed to me that 1 was a non starter and the other 4 were ok. I haven't checked since them and I don't know how long it was before I knew she was serious about setting. I'll try candling them again tonight. She just seems, like I said, in a trance.

 

[Eckielady]

If you're not sure which day she's on I would definitely try to candle the eggs and see if they're viable.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

How's it going now?

I have adopted many feed store chicks to a sitting hen in the middle of the night with great success up to 5 days old.