Seeking Broody Advice

[Kadra]

Okay, so it's Day 25 of broody Daisy trying to hatch out fertile eggs. Not a pip, a peep or a cheep. Forget about it, right? Candle the eggs tonight (I haven't at all yet)? "Break" her? Poor thing, she's worked so hard...

 

[ivnurse2001]

I have 3 hens sitting since before April 1 and only one egg hatched from each hen so far but they are still sitting.

 

[annanimal]

Candle the eggs to see if the chicks are alive, if not throw them away, if they are leave the broody to do her job, I have heard of chicks hatching on day 27, you never know... If there are no chicks and you think she deserves them you can try putting more eggs under her (after removing the other ones) but if you do do this you risk her getting off the nest and leaving the developing chicks. I have succeeded a couple of times, just make sure she is sitting tight and have an incubator on hand in case she abandons them.

 

[Kadra]

Thank you, annanimal! I candled last night and one had a large air pocket, the other seemed all dark inside. Possibly still developing then, do you think? I didn't see any movement but maybe that's normal at this stage? (I've never candled past Day 18, this is my second go at hatching eggs, the 1st time was in an incubator.) They are Cream Legbar eggs so the candling should be pretty accurate. Maybe I'll wait a few more days then. Thanks again!