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right, the incubation does not start the day it's laid. this is a common misconception that has people all over grossed out that someone would eat a fertilized egg.
they think the flecks of blood that sometimes are present mean it is fertilized (heck, i did, until i did some research).
i don't know what the normal period of time for them to leave the nest, is. they say they get up once or twice to run out and get some food and water, but not for long. i don't watch mine 24/7, but i don't think she's leaving. i put food in front of her, but she won't eat it.
the reasoning is to allow the hen to lay a clutch of eggs, instead of laying one and sitting on that for 3 weeks.
my hen had been working on going broody for a while now (a week or so), i'd find her sitting in there, but she'd quickly run off. then one day - BAM! i opened the lid to the nest box and she didn't move; didn't even turn her head to look at me. glared at me out of the corner of her eye, pupils dilated, ready to fight.
i've heard eggs can stay viable for up to 2 weeks. the exact amount of time varies, depending on with whom you speak about it. our turkey eggs were up to a week and a half.
you can put some golf balls in her nest box for her to lay on, and she may get more and more broody (if she is not already) while you collect eggs to slip under her. i just quickly placed mine gently along side her (avoiding her razor attack beak), and they rolled right under. i've got 3 laying hens, and the nest box is one long box. since she went broody this past monday, i have gotten ZERO eggs, because i think she is rolling them under her, but she won't let me check. i kept them all locked in their run yesterday to see if maybe the other hens were laying elsewhere, but there were no eggs anywhere, leading me to believe my suspicions were correct.
you can leave them there, if she is not broody, hopefully she will. or, if you collect them, keep them in a cool area (55-60 is the suggested temp) for up to 2 weeks. we've heard to turn them every day, and we had good luck with that. keep the blunt end up.
hopefully for you, though, she is broody and will hatch you some baby silkies