I have A broody hen been sitting on about 8 eggs for about 4 days now

[TexasSam]

My question is about how many days will it take before she hatches these eggs naturally. There is A polish three EE A cream legbar and two RIR eggs under her

 

[bobbi-j]

About 13 more days. No guarantee. They don't always read the same books we do. Sometimes chicks hatch earlier, and some later. But somewhere around there.

 

[TexasSam]

About 13 more days. No guarantee. They don't always read the same books we do. Sometimes chicks hatch earlier, and some later. But somewhere around there.

so about three weeks total

 

[bobbi-j]

Yes, incubation for chicken eggs is about 21 days.

 

[Lazy Farmer]

Broody hens hatch staggered chicks if not placed under them by you. No telling dob or date of arrival without interaction by said care taker. temp/humidity and day egg was left in the nest at proper conditions all come into play. Closely monitor progress is all I can advise you at this point,In a controlled enviroment, 21 days is a rule of thumb. good luck.. fc

 

[bobbi-j]

Broody hens hatch staggered chicks if not placed under them by you. No telling dob or date of arrival without interaction by said care taker. temp/humidity and day egg was left in the nest at proper conditions all come into play. Closely monitor progress is all I can advise you at this point, good luck.. fc

That is something to consider. Usually, they'll lay a clutch then start setting on them. They should all hatch at roughly the same time (within 24 hours or so of each other - mama will leave the nest with the babies once the figures all that are going to hatch have done so). The staggered hatch generally happens when other hens get into the nest and lay their eggs and those extra eggs aren't taken out of the nest daily. The best way to avoid this is to mark the eggs that were set at first, and take out the extras every day. If the other hens don't have access to the broody's nest, this isn't a problem.

 

[TexasSam]

So I need too move her out of the way once A day to count her eggs I was afraid she might not come back if I did

 

[TexasSam]

Broody hens hatch staggered chicks if not placed under them by you. No telling dob or date of arrival without interaction by said care taker. temp/humidity and day egg was left in the nest at proper conditions all come into play. Closely monitor progress is all I can advise you at this point,In a controlled enviroment, 21 days is a rule of thumb. good luck.. fc

Can I mark them with a p marker

 

[bcarthen]

It also helps...if your going to move her and check the eggs. Do it at night. It is less stressful for you and her that way.

 

[bobbi-j]

I prefer to let my broodies hatch within the flock. I draw a circle around the eggs I want her to hatch so I can see at a glance which ones are hers. Then once a day, I go and just give her a quick lift, glance, remove extra eggs and put her down.