One of my hens is sitting on a nest of staggered date eggs.

[Denninmi]

All four of them are laying in the one same nest. Last weekend, when there were 6 eggs in it (I stopped gather them for food use for two days and look what happens!) one of them decided she was going to sit on them.

All week, the egg count has been going up. I didn't want to disturb her and go in a look closely, but from the outside and above when she was off the nest for food, it looks like there are now 12 to 14 eggs in there.

So, questions:

Is a a successful staggered date hatch possible?

If she were to hatch them, would they be safe around the other hens and the two toms?

I'm trying to decide whether I should let her continue to sit on them, or gather them and pop them in the Brinsea.

 

[Steve_of_sandspoultry]

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[Ridgerunner]

Steve, you're the turkey expert. Isn't she in danger of getting more eggs than she can cover, thus some of them cooling off and dying?

 

[Steve_of_sandspoultry]

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[Denninmi]

Thanks for the response. It's a moral dilema for me all the way around. I was not planning on doing anything with these eggs except eating them as eggs. I slacked off gathering them for a few days because I was too busy with other things plus it was pouring down rain every evening. So, if I end up with any babies, I'll have to find someone to give them to -- I doubt that will be very hard to do.

 

[MissTurkey4]

It is most likely not going to be a seccessful hatch if you have other hens disturbing the nest every time they lay another egg. They won't stop laying at 20. The nest will start getting broken eggs and dirty and smelly. I had a hen hatch out 28 last year 4 days apart from the first one, but she was alone after the first 4 days. I always brood my hens away from everyone in a safe and sucure spot. Don't be afraid of disrurbing a broody turkey. If they are broody they can't be scared off the nest. You can candle the eggs and see what is going on. You can date the eggs too. If it was me I would put the eggs in a incubator then perpare a spot for the next nest of eggs. Collect the eggs daily and store them at 60 degrees. When you have collected 18 to 20 eggs, give them to the broody in a safe spot.