Inconsistent broody - should I take the eggs?

[UGAchick]

I have a hen who has been through a lot (survived several dog attacks) and has decided to go broody. Well... I thought she was broody (sat in nest box, puffed up, pecked at me when I tried to move her), but she is not the best momma. I got VERY valuable eggs to put under her, but she isn't sitting on them consistently. I am not home during the day, so I don't know how long she is on them, but even when she is, she isn't always on all of them. She separated them into two piles, and sat on them in turn. Then she combined the piles and kicked one egg out. I don't know what she is doing. I may have put too many under her (10 LF eggs under a bantam), but she appeared to cover them all when I first put them there.

Anyway.... I am just not sure she is doing the best job, and I REALLY want these eggs to hatch. Should I take them? It means I will have to buy an incubator. Is it too late? I set them on Friday (about 5.5 days ago), but all the eggs are under 10 days old. Should I just let her go??? Help!!

 

[squeakyballs]

What a weird chicken...

Is it hot where you are? She could be thinking they are getting too warm... maybe?

 

[LaurenM23]

Alot of times, it really seems like the hens know best...kicking the eggs out could be a sign of too much warmth or knowing that some just won't develop. If this is the first time she has gone broody, this might be just a behavioral thing, where she is not clear on what to do and is trying to get her head around it. If you are really attached to these eggs, I might remove the majority and incubate. You might consider giving her one or two that she has been most consistent with and letting her give it a go with those.

 

[UGAchick]

It is hot here - mid 90's. I am not sure if this is her first time broody, I have had her only a few months, and the lady I got her from bought her from someone else. I am not even sure how old she is. She seems to have become more consistent over the past few days, so I might leave them with her. Fingers crossed!!!!