It's been 28 days and nothing :(

[sneal79]

My broody hen has been sitting on a large clutch of eggs (14 eggs) for 28 days now. We discovered that she was sitting on them May 13. We have candled the eggs, and they are dark. How long should I let this go on? I am scared to discard the eggs for fear there are chicks in them, but on the flip side, I hate to think she is sitting on a batch of blanks.

 

[sumi]

By now it's too late to expect chicks, sorry! Can you get some day old to week old chicks for her? Slip them under her when she's sleeping and remove the eggs at the same time.

 

[Happy Chooks]

Are you positive on the time she's been on them? Were any new eggs introduced by other hens to the nest after that? Do you see an air sac or not when you candle? Tap on the egg with your fingernail, any cheeping?

 

[sneal79]

I am sad to report that all 14 eggs were unfertilized. We got rid of the eggs on Saturday, and now I am trying to break my broody hen. It was almost like she went mad. She ate an egg belonging to someone else (shell and all) and had the yolk all over her face. She was bullying some of my other chickens...so...she is solitary confinement until Wednesday.

 

[Freia]

My hen was sitting on a clutch of unfertilized eggs as well. On day 23, I took mercy on her and bought some chicks at the feed store and swapped them out for her eggs at night. All are happy and content.