Mama hen just hatched babies, but still has 4 eggs.

[BubbaBubbles]

Hi! Been a while since I've been here lol. So, I have a flock, still of course. One of which is a mama, Bambi, and her new chicks. She had been disappearing for a few days, and we finally found out where she was going. Lo and behold, I found her in our abandoned garden outside the backyard, sitting on 10 eggs inside of a nest she had built underneath the vegetation. I was afraid to throw them out 'cause I didn't know how long she'd been on them or how far along they were, so we went along with it. Cut to a few days ago, the first 2 hatched, then 2 more, and finally 1 more. This left 4 more unhatched eggs. We snuck her and the chicks and eggs out to a proper kennel and coop. She is now in the nesting box with her 6 hatched chicks, as well as the unhatched eggs. So far, she's a wonderful mama and is letting me see the babies and leave chick grit for them. I was wondering what to do about the unhatched eggs. I don't know yet if they're even viable. I should've candled them last night, but I was in a rush to get everyone moved before they woke up from roosting. So, what can I expect? How long should I wait to take the eggs? She's still sitting on them, but I'm worried she'll neglect to take the chicks out to venture if she's focusing on the eggs.

P.S. I hate having to keep the father roo separated, but Zazu is so mean and is the classic "mate and leave" type. Which is why I miss our Trifle. He was the best rooster in the world! Such a sweetheart... </3

 

[BoundlessLove]

Do you have an incubator?
If candle and see if they are developing.

 

[BubbaBubbles]

Do you have an incubator?
If candle and see if they are developing.

I don't have one actively set up, but I do have a heat lamp.

 

[Yardmom]

Candle them especially if she gets up. Are the eggs all hers or could another hen have added to her nest?

 

[McChooky]

I don't have one actively set up, but I do have a heat lamp.

I candled and hatched the last egg in an incubator and slid it under the broody hen after it dried .I was lucky. It hatched the same day she came off the nest. Your chicks will be fine 3 days which gives her time to hatch the remaining eggs. Make sure food and water is available to anyone who needs it

 

[BubbaBubbles]

Candle them especially if she gets up. Are the eggs all hers or could another hen have added to her nest?

They're all hers and all from the same rooster.