My broody hen has left her nest within the first 24 hours

Hbdragonuk

In the Brooder
5 Years
Aug 19, 2014
11
2
24
West midlands, UK
I have a mixed flock of 15 hens, 2 of which have gone broody. I successfully hatched some eggs last year under 2 Orpingtons which I seperated from the flock. I decided this year when my Australorp and Peking batam went broody I would leave them with the rest of the flock.
I brought some 10 fertile eggs and placed 4 under the Peking and 6 under the Australorp last night. Although they were both sitting first thing this morning, when I went to check on the just I realised the Australorp had deserted her best to go and sit on some freshly laid (infertile) eggs leaving the others to go stone cold.
I now realise that I would need to seperate them from the flock, but should I now disregard the eggs which have gone cold and purchase more?
Thank you :)
 
I don't think the eggs should be discarded. Development ceases when the eggs are not incubated, but it is still fertile. Once it is incubated again, development will continue.
 
I don't think the eggs should be discarded. Development ceases when the eggs are not incubated, but it is still fertile. Once it is incubated again, development will continue.
You have to act quick to incubate. Within 30 minutes otherwise the chick inside will just die.
 
You have to act quick to incubate. Within 30 minutes otherwise the chick inside will just die.
Not true. Depending on the stage of developement -rates of hatch may very, but many people have had power outtages (more than 24 hours) or found a broody's egg gone cold and continued incubating with some success...of course the hatch rate will most likely be lower, but it doesn't disqualify them as being viable. Doesn't mean they will hatch, but it doesn't mean they won't.

I would either place them with another broody or in an incubator and see what you get.
 
You have to act quick to incubate. Within 30 minutes otherwise the chick inside will just die.

Not true. Otherwise we would not be able to ship hatching eggs.

After a certain stage of development, too long at too low a temperature can be fatal. But before incubation starts, or early on, a broad range of temperatures from 55-75 degrees are acceptable for storage.
 
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Not true.  Otherwise we would not be able to ship hatching eggs.

After a certain stage of development, too long at too low a temperature can be fatal.  But before incubation starts, or early on, a broad range of temperatures from 55-75 degrees are acceptable for storage.
I know u can ship them but as soon as they start to incubate the eggs you still need to act quickly to get the best results.
 
She only set them last night, so development would be minimal. My hens who would like to be broodies often sit on the eggs they lay all day before I take them, and I store them for up to a couple of weeks while putting together a set. After 3 or 4 days of incubation, then yes, a long delay would likely be fatal.
 
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Yes, the quicker the action the better, but it does not render them non viable after 30 minutes. It just slows/stops the incubation process at this early a stage.
 

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