What to do?

[MDeezy79]

Ive got 1 hen who started sitting full time on about 6 eggs around Easter. Since then 2 other hens have been laying eggs by her and then she would pull them under her and take them as her own over a period of a month.
So I have now roughly 25-30 eggs all with different dates of incubation. And about 10 days ago another hen starting sitting full time next to the original hen.

Problem is.. those EASTER EGGS. "no pun intended" are now starting to get to the 28 day mark or past.. and are starting to hatch... 2 days ago.. 2 eggs were dis guarded.. one full development chick half out of shell and 1 looked like all yellow yoke. Thrown aside for some reason.

Yesterday there is 1 live and dry baby under her and thats all I can tell.

Id like the hens to raise them herself as she did an excellent job last year.. but the circumstances were way different.. they all hatched the same time. How long will the mom sit on the rest of the eggs before she gets up and teaches them how to eat and drink? I know I have only a few days on day old before they need food/water.

Do I start taking the hatch-lings away as they come or just let them do their thing and see what happens? If dont know if she can sit for 60 days with out her body condition deteriorating dramatically. Like usual, they get pretty angry when I check under them.

 

[R2elk]

Ive got 1 hen who started sitting full time on about 6 eggs around Easter. Since then 2 other hens have been laying eggs by her and then she would pull them under her and take them as her own over a period of a month.
So I have now roughly 25-30 eggs all with different dates of incubation. And about 10 days ago another hen starting sitting full time next to the original hen.

Problem is.. those EASTER EGGS. "no pun intended" are now starting to get to the 28 day mark or past.. and are starting to hatch... 2 days ago.. 2 eggs were dis guarded.. one full development chick half out of shell and 1 looked like all yellow yoke. Thrown aside for some reason.

Yesterday there is 1 live and dry baby under her and thats all I can tell.

Id like the hens to raise them herself as she did an excellent job last year.. but the circumstances were way different.. they all hatched the same time. How long will the mom sit on the rest of the eggs before she gets up and teaches them how to eat and drink? I know I have only a few days on day old before they need food/water.

Do I start taking the hatch-lings away as they come or just let them do their thing and see what happens? I don't know if she can sit for 60 days with out her body condition deteriorating dramatically. Like usual, they get pretty angry when I check under them.

What I do is to take the poults away as I find them. This will keep the hen sitting until the other eggs hatch.

The hen will get exercise when she attacks and flogs you for stealing her poults. Good hens (ones that get off the nest daily to eat and drink, etc.) can go a surprisingly long time being broody without harming themselves. She will need access to free choice oyster shell as a calcium deficiency can cause loss of muscle control.