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Sounds like a broody hen to me!
Roughly, 21 days from when she starts "setting" full time. She may well be grumpy, so put of some leather gloves or such and go hoist her up. Count the eggs, maybe put a pencil mark on them. Because itf she can steal more eggs or the other hens are laying in there, you'll need to take the newly laid eggs out. Usually broody hens will leave the nest once or twice a day to eat, drink, leave a huge smelly poop and maybe have a dust bath. If they won't, you'll have to force her off the nest.
Given the time frame, she may be close to hatch time, so she may not want to leave. It's been 3 weeks, but since you don't know when she went broody I'd take it as any old time and put starter feed and water near her. Make sure the area she's in is protected, has no lip on it that would prevent the chicks from getting back in under her and cross your fingers.
Maybe you could candle the eggs tonight? ETA: You DO have a rooster, right?
Sounds like a broody hen to me!
Roughly, 21 days from when she starts "setting" full time. She may well be grumpy, so put of some leather gloves or such and go hoist her up. Count the eggs, maybe put a pencil mark on them. Because itf she can steal more eggs or the other hens are laying in there, you'll need to take the newly laid eggs out. Usually broody hens will leave the nest once or twice a day to eat, drink, leave a huge smelly poop and maybe have a dust bath. If they won't, you'll have to force her off the nest.
Given the time frame, she may be close to hatch time, so she may not want to leave. It's been 3 weeks, but since you don't know when she went broody I'd take it as any old time and put starter feed and water near her. Make sure the area she's in is protected, has no lip on it that would prevent the chicks from getting back in under her and cross your fingers.
Maybe you could candle the eggs tonight? ETA: You DO have a rooster, right?
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