Switch eggs

[Hillbillesholm]

Hello dear friends.

We have a hen that has been laying on 3 eggs for 6 days. Saw today that she has broken 2 of them. Don't wanna add new once since they will be so many days apart. Can I switch the last one for 5 new, or does she have an inside clock for about 21-24 days and then she gives up?

Thanks!

 

[SueT]

Hello dear friends.

We have a hen that has been laying on 3 eggs for 6 days. Saw today that she has broken 2 of them. Don't wanna add new once since they will be so many days apart. Can I switch the last one for 5 new, or does she have an inside clock for about 21-24 days and then she gives up?

Thanks!

A good broody doesn’t give up. (Often, when we don’t want them to be broody, we have to go to all kinds of measures to get them to stop.) So yes, you can switch the eggs.
There are hens who are not reliably broody. But those that are will stay put.

 

[Yardmom]

Yes you can put a fresh set of eggs under her. Is she in a good spot so the eggs won't break again? If not move her with her current egg to a spot where she can not get back to the original nest. I use a cage. After she has settled give her the new eggs. There is of course a risk of breaking her broodiness with the move, but most of the time chickens can be moved successfully at this stage.