There are many variables that can affect hatch timing. The hen will usually sit for a while, talk to her brood, and wait for the rest to hatch. After a few days, she'll feel the urge to leave the nest and begin to teach her chicks survival skills. (Candle those unhatched eggs at that time. If any look viable, you can pop them in an incubator to give them a little extra time. They may or may not hatch, but it doesn't hurt to try.)
What a pretty hen!
Time for something like a leghorn? They rarely go broody and lay Lots of eggs.... smaller sized though
I see a lot of photos that look like my set up so hoping I can get some input. Newbie chicken person, had 2 bantam Cochins go broody so they are sitting on 10 eggs between them and hopefully the Ameraucana rooster did his job. Day 21 for the first eggs is Friday. They are in the favorite nest boxes in the favorite coop, of course. The nest boxes have about a 3” lip on them and are sitting on the floor, then a 4x6 solid-floored coop which sits about 10” off the ground in the chain link wrapped with chicken wire pen. Plan is to move the 3 other hens to the ‘girls coop’ and keep the broodies in their own coop/pen until they can integrate any chicks that hopefully hatch. What is the best way to alter the set up so the chicks can get in and out of the nest, and once we get that figured out, to get in and out of the coop? I’m worried about pulling the nest box out and then broodies leaving the eggs or chicks, but I don’t think the little chicks will manage the lip. Appreciate your thoughts on low-stress modifications that might work for moms and kids alike. (We haven’t candled. Going to be surprised. Hopefully not disappointed)
