Swapping eggs of broody hens question.

[K1MM11]

Hi! I have a young wyandotte who's just become broody for the first time. She day 1 she was on and off the nest but mostly on. Day 2 and 3 she didn't seem to get up even to eat or drink. At night on day 3 I moved her quietly to her own coop and she got up instantly for food and water, then returned to the nest and has been there since. When she jumped off I saw she was only sitting on one egg! Today is day 4 (kinda) and I have had to wait till likely tomorrow afternoon to slip a collection of eggs under her (that iv collected and stored since day 1 from my other hens).

So my question is, if I swap the single egg for 10 fertile eggs will she sit long enough to hatch them? Or will she decide she's been there 21 days then abandon the nest 4 days before the chicks hatch? Iv heated of chickens leaving the nest if one egg hatches way earlier then the rest which is why I decided to remove the one egg she's already sitting on. I'm just worried she will be too impatient!

 

[sourland]

In my experience most hens will set longer than 21 days unless a chick hatches.

 

[Nigel27]

I had a hen broody for 40ish days

 

[LikeTurkeys]

I agree with @sourland. I don't think a hen can count days, she can only tell if she hears chicks chirping. With my hens, I usually wait 3-4 days at least anyway to make sure they are truly broody and won't abandon the nest mid-set.

 

[K1MM11]

Thanks everyone for the reassurance. I was pritty sure she would be ok I'm just nervous