How well do chickens count?

[KatGold]

I have eggs under a broody right now. She was broody for a whole week before I was able to get eggs under her. I put them all under at once.

As I understand it, a hen will abandon a nest if the eggs take too long because she will know that they were infertile or somehow defective. So, since she sat for a whole week before she got eggs, when Day 14 or 16 rolls around, will she think that the eggs were infertile even though they may not be?

She pushed two eggs out of the nest within the first 24 hours. And she took what seemed to me to be a big break. I was afraid they were getting cold.

She knocked over her water and the nest got a little wet and messy. I'm worried about that, but I don't suppose there's much I can do. I cleaned it up as much as possible.

I do have an incubator plugged in and ready to go in case I need a rescue, but how do I know if or when I should attempt a rescue? And FYI, I have TERRIBLE hatch rates. I want the broody to do it.

Thanks!

 

[sumi]

I have once successfully hatched an egg under a broody that she pushed out while it was raining. It was quite wet and ice cold when I found it and shoved it back under her. So they may be O.K. I'd say keep the incubator on stand-by for now. See how it goes. Good luck!