Saturday is Hatch Day.... so excited

[LizsChicks]

I'm going completely natural and seeing all the posts about incubator hatching I'm excited to see how this natural hatching goes. My one Buff Orphington went broody mid April, one day while she was out of the nest I grabbed the eggs. She came back in, was pissed and let me know it so I decided to let her go. She now has 13 eggs under her. She has stayed on the eggs constantly, I've only seen her out of the coop once to eat and dust. (mind you I work during the day so who knows what she does while I'm not around) The only thing I've done is make sure there is fresh water for her in the coop. I have not candled, marked or checked the eggs in anyway. I figure Saturday is day 21 so we'll see how this goes. Here's hoping there are at least a couple sweet babies to add to the flock. My only question is at what point do I give up? Do I wait until she's left the coop and then remove any unhatched eggs? or if she doesn't leave the coop 24 days and assume all are duds? She's been so attentive I can't imagine I won't get anything. But I also don't want her sitting on non-viable eggs forever.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Mine are set to hatch on Sunday/Monday. I generally remove the rest by day 23 or when the hen leaves the nest whichever comes first. Most broody hatched eggs hatch on day 20. Hope we both have a good hatch.

 

[LizsChicks]

Well today is day 20. Just went out and did a quick coop tidy and gave her some fresh water. She seems very calm. Can’t wait to get home tonight and check in! Much luck to you as well!

 

[LizsChicks]

 

[Duck Lover88]

Haha cool mine are due Saturday to!

 

[LizsChicks]

Haha cool mine are due Saturday to!

As of about 3pm yesterday I had two new sweet babies. Haven't been back out yet. It's pouring outside!

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I currently have 3, more are peeping.

 

[LizsChicks]

I now have 4 she’s still on the nest and being very protective so I’m letting her go. She seems to have it all under control.