My Indian Runner went broody, BUT...

[SammyLady]

By the time we realized she was broody--or at that early stage, going broody?..., I had already taken some of her eggs, & didn't mark the day down (this is our 1st broody experience) We're guessing July 12. Anyhow...So before she started laying on them constantly a hen laid an egg in her nest so amid her own eggs, she has 1 hen egg... what are the chances a chick will hatch (Yes, we do have a Rooster and he "twitterpates" most of the hens, so there's a good chance it is/was fertilized)

Also, does Momma Duck do anything that signals that the babies are starting to hatch?
Is pipping fairly noisy that I'd be able to hear without getting too close and botherin momma?

 

[carlf]

How many hens do you have? If you want her to set, gather up all the eggs for the next 2-3 days and put them under her each day.
She should set them until hatch.

When my hen set this spring, she was on the nest for 3 or 4 days before I put 11 fertile eggs under her. She set & hatched just fine.

 

[SammyLady]

I have 7 hens, but non of them are broody. =(

 

[carlf]

misunderstood. Sorry