To hen incubate or not to?

[Livlif2itsfulest]

So I just found a new home for my rooster this morning... yeah! (due to lack of manners around children)

But I still have less then a week old fertile eggs left that I hate to not hatch... I have 2 hens manning a nesting box... I rarely see both off it and when another hen enters the coop they scream like pterodactyls... so I dont know if that means they are broody or not (just started 2 weeks ago)... I tried easter eggs under them to see if they would stay on them and they will just every few days they both leave the nest to stretch for a few hours and then returns soo I am scared that if I put real eggs under them they will allow the to go cold. I dont want to buy an incubator for just this clutch of eggs and i dont have the smarts or talent to build my own... so that is where you all come in... opinions on what i should do? I really think this would be a pretty bird to hatch. thanks

 

[faykokoWV]

well, if you don't want to buy an incubator, sticking them under the hen is about the only option left... unless you have a friend with an incubator

 

[wowmanacat]

From what i know and that is very little for I have yet to have a broody hen, but they do not stay on the nest 24/7. They have to eat and drink. I have a incubator that has had the temp all over the place and 14/17 of my eggs are doing good. Egg hold there heat some what good from what I have read on here. I would say just put the eggs under them and see what happens.