Natural incubation

[Jerhome7]

Hi all, I found eggs on the bush and hen is getting broody. Can I let her sit on those eggs? My concern is not how old are the eggs , my concern is they were exposed to weather conditions cold, rain etc, not directly but exposed.

 

[Oob Child]

Hi all, I found eggs on the bush and hen is getting broody. Can I let her sit on those eggs? My concern is not how old are the eggs , my concern is they were exposed to weather conditions cold, rain etc, not directly but exposed.

I’m not sure. I would let her sit on the eggs, but I have no idea so take my opinion as a grain of salt. Are you sure they are chicken eggs? Do they look like they have been abandoned?

Hope someone who actually knows what they are doing can help you soon.

@Nabiki do you know about this stuff? You seem to have an answer for everything..

 

[Nabiki]

I would candle the eggs, but my general motto is, "When in doubt, throw it out." You don't want to get a rotten egg that might crack or explode.

@Oob Child Are you saying I'm a know it all?

 

[Oob Child]

I would candle the eggs, but my general motto is, "When in doubt, throw it out." You don't want to get a rotten egg that might crack or explode.

@Oob Child Are you saying I'm a know it all?

Maybe...

 

[Shadrach]

Hi all, I found eggs on the bush and hen is getting broody. Can I let her sit on those eggs? My concern is not how old are the eggs , my concern is they were exposed to weather conditions cold, rain etc, not directly but exposed.

Long before supermarkets, incubators and even BYC hens used to sit on such nests and hatch chicks. These eggs those hens laid were also exposed to the elements.
The first consideration is how cold. If you're going to write it's been 10F for the past few weeks then perhaps the whole sitting business isn't a great idea.
The next point is where the nest is and how safe it is from predators. You should have some idea of what predators you have where you live. The higher the predator load, the greater the risk.
Next point is if it were all to go wrong and your hen got killed or injured while sitting on, or going to and from her nest could you accept this.