I messed up.

[KakawKakaw]

I’m sick about this but when collecting eggs last night, I brought in 2 marked eggs that are due to hatch in a week. They’ve been sitting on the counter room temp until I got home from work and checked the hens only to find broody only had one marked egg not 3. I put them back under her, pretty sure they’re goners but hoping at least the one that she has been sitting on will hatch. How long should I wait after due date to get rid of unhatched eggs? By the way, this hen gets up for a break and the other hens lay their eggs in her nest. I’ve had to collect unmarked eggs from her nest and put her back on the 3 marked eggs almost everyday. Any suggestions for next time?

 

[bhawk-23]

I'm sorry

I had this same issue with my current broody. I tried to relocate her since I could not get the ladies to stop laying on her but she was not happy. So I set a box with her nest and eggs inside the nest box she had chosen. Once she was comfortable in the box, I moved her and the box to the new location. When she was content with that I moved the eggs and nest out of the box and she was good to go. This took about 1 week maybe a few days more.

Now my other hen, she will follow her eggs wherever I put them!! Hahahahaha

Good luck!

 

[KakawKakaw]

I'm sorry

I had this same issue with my current broody. I tried to relocate her since I could not get the ladies to stop laying on her but she was not happy. So I set a box with her nest and eggs inside the nest box she had chosen. Once she was comfortable in the box, I moved her and the box to the new location. When she was content with that I moved the eggs and nest out of the box and she was good to go. This took about 1 week maybe a few days more.

Now my other hen, she will follow her eggs wherever I put them!! Hahahahaha

Good luck!

Thanks for the hugs!:-(. And thanks for the tip for next time.

 

[yakitori]

I’m sick about this but when collecting eggs last night, I brought in 2 marked eggs that are due to hatch in a week. They’ve been sitting on the counter room temp until I got home from work and checked the hens only to find broody only had one marked egg not 3. I put them back under her, pretty sure they’re goners but hoping at least the one that she has been sitting on will hatch. How long should I wait after due date to get rid of unhatched eggs? By the way, this hen gets up for a break and the other hens lay their eggs in her nest. I’ve had to collect unmarked eggs from her nest and put her back on the 3 marked eggs almost everyday. Any suggestions for next time?

What day are you on? there definitely a possibility that the eggs will be okay...might hatch a day or two later though.

 

[KakawKakaw]

What day are you on? there definitely a possibility that the eggs will be okay...might hatch a day or two later though.

Day 15

 

[yakitori]

Day 15

If they were healthy and developing, it'll be fine to leave them there until hatch

 

[KakawKakaw]

If they were healthy and developing, it'll be fine to leave them there until hatch

That's encouraging! Question, if they don't, will my hen remain broody until some chicks do hatch?

 

[yakitori]

That's encouraging! Question, if they don't, will my hen remain broody until some chicks do hatch?

most broodies will wait up to 2 days after the first one hatches. Then they will leave the nest because by then, the oldest has depleted his yolk supply and needs to be taught to eat and drink.

 

[SpicyDisaster]

most broodies will wait up to 2 days after the first one hatches. Then they will leave the nest because by then, the oldest has depleted his yolk supply and needs to be taught to eat and drink.

This is really helpful to know. We had our first broody hatch two out of three eggs and we were worried she'd sit on the third neglecting the first two. Didn't make much sense but we weren't sure.