Should I move eggs from under broody?

[Old Ben]

On Thursday the first chicks started hatching under my first time broody hen, it’s Saturday now and as far as I can tell there’s a little more than 3 chicks under her. But the thing is, she started with 6-7 eggs and other hens kept adding some to it. (I couldn’t keep them out of the nest box.) so I know they’re all not going to hatch, it also smells bad, so I’m afraid a few have been broken or worse. Should I move her and throw out the eggs that aren’t hatched? As far as I can tell the chicks haven’t left their mother yet so they haven’t drank or ate. Should I give it more time or move her?

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Today is Saturday... so you mean a week ago they started hatching?

Yes I would remove them and put food and water near by for those that hatched already.

For future reference... those of us who allow our broody's to stay with the flock will usually use a marker to well define the original hatching eggs and collect the unmarked ones nightly to prevent this issue.

Good luck!

ETA: Sorry about my first sentence.. I see I misread.. I would candle the eggs that are left and see how close they might be to hatching.

 

[Shadrach]

Yes, remove the eggs.
Provide chicks food and water.
Staggered hatching under a broody is a recipe for disaster. The 'normal' thing is for the hen to abandon any eggs that haven't hatched after 24 hours. This means that all the chicks have a reasonably equal growth and therefor a reasonably equal chance of fighting for food and other resources.
Staggered hatching when using an incubator is less of a problem.