How Long

[chickenGRAFFITI]

My Silkie was sitting on 6 fertile eggs. One hatched two days ago. Another hatched yesterday. There are no other signs of pipping and today is day 23. How long until I should remove the eggs?

 

[Mrs. Fluffy Puffy]

Are you sure that all the eggs were layed on the same day?

 

[chickenGRAFFITI]

I got all of the eggs from a breeder on the same day.

 

[loopy12]

My broodies always seem to know when to give up hope - they normally abandon the unhatched eggs 2-3 days after the first chick hatches. I guess they sense wriggling or not and that timeframe coincides with the early chicks running out of yolk and needing mom to teach them to eat...
I guess if she's still on them after a few days you could candle them or at least listen to them for peeps.

 

[Mrs. Fluffy Puffy]

Well, why don't you try candling them? Then if they died, you can throw them out, or if they're still alive and I'd leave them.

 

[chickenGRAFFITI]

The breeder orignially told me not to candle. On candling, do I just look for movement? This is my first hatch and her first time being broody.

 

[Mrs. Fluffy Puffy]

Yes, look for movement.