New to hatching, a few questions

[backyardigans]

Hi,

I just received some fertile Modern Game eggs in the mail and put them under our broody MG hen yesterday. She's very broody and growls at everyone approaching, puffs up her feathers and pecks. She's sitting on 6 eggs in her favorite place, which is under my son's bed. (don't ask...)

We've never had a chicken sit on eggs, so this is all new to us. Our hen left the eggs this morning for several hours and then came back and is sitting on them again. Is this normal? The eggs were getting cold, does that mean that they won't develop? I'm just worried that the hen is not attending to the eggs enough, she's kind of wacky to put it mildly...

Thanks!

 

[kathyinmo]

Usually the hen gets off the nest once a day, to go eat, drink, and poop.

I will tell you my experience ... My broody Silkie got off her nest (in the dead of winter 30* or less), and could not get back to it until the next morning. I had no hope ..... but she did hatch a couple from the 4 eggs (2 were rotten). Sure did surprise me!