Need a general consensus

[Laffindog]

Wasn't sure whether to put this in this section or behaviors. I have a banty cochin hen sitting on two eggs, neither of them are hers. Today is day 21, so I'm checking on her regularly. She is separated from the others in a large dog cage and has been doing pretty well for a couple weeks now. We had to hand feed her in the beginning but she's eating on her own now.

My question is this: If these two eggs don't hatch by Monday, I can safely assume they are not going to hatch, right? And if not, it will be necessary to remove them from her but then what do I do with her? Leave her in the dog cage awhile longer?

Any advice is appreciated!
L

 

[Goose and Fig]

I'd give her until day 25, and then put her back with the rest of the flock. You may see them eat a little, but they can get deficient after brooding.

 

[Laffindog]

The fact that she's been turning them, does that indicate that SHE knows they are alive inside?

Sorry, this is my first experience with this!

 

[Judy]

Quote:
Well, it means she has not decided they are dead, and broodies often can do that. So there is hope.

 

[Laffindog]

Ok, many thanks!

 

[R@ndy]

Good luck, got my fingers crossed

 

[DANNY]

If you don't have babies or pips in 21 days you won't have any. The only way is if the hen stopped sitting on the eggs for a time. Chicken eggs are supposed to hatch in 21 days. People that are having late hatches in incubators need to fix their incubators. The most common problems is low temperature due to inaccurate thermometers.

 

[Laffindog]

Oh DEAR!!! We have a baby! It's the sweetest thing! I went out there to sit with her and she was moving around kinda funny and I kept thinking I was hearing a different kind of sound (I'm kinda hard of hearing) and oh my word! To the right of her, a little mouth was sticking out and cheeping! I was afraid to pick her up but after we had sat together in peace for a bit, I dared to, and sure enough, there's a baby and one egg. This mama is a banty and she was on a banty egg and a standard size egg. The standard has not hatched and she won't get off of it for very long. Anyway, I'm in the house getting stuff ready, a water bowl with rocks in it.

Oh my! We have a baby!!!

 

[jhfields]

25 days is my recommendation

 

[Year of the Rooster]

Yes, wait 'til day 25. Many times the babies can hatch late. It all depends on if they are ready.