Will my eggs develop and hatch?

[Lids]

This is what happened:
My hen lay 12 eggs. She started setting, but not outright at first. She was off more than on. This is how:
Day 1: she got a scare, (me, bringing food) didn't go back till next day. In that time, I thought what the heck and took the oldest 9 eggs (because "If she aintent setting, why not eat them, right? I did Kerpen them on their sides, just in case) Then she went back and I decided to return the other eggs. In returning them (at 4 am, dark, like they say) she got a scare again and only returned to the nest in the afternoon. Since then she has been setting more or less continuously.
Has the interference arrested the development of the eggs? Is she going to sit for 3 weeks with nothing to show at the end?
And please, one more question: how can I keep myself from interfering, I feel I care too much. I am more concerned about my chooks than I ever was about my dogs or kids!

 

[igorsMistress]

Hi there. It'll depend on how old the eggs are. If they're fertile then leave them under her and see what happens.

As for leaving well enough alone, you just need to have self control. Difficult, I completely understand, but you gotta do it. Just trust that the broody will get up once a day to eat, drink and poop. If you're going to candle the eggs, that is the time to do it instead of trying to steal them from under her.

Good luck!

 

[Lids]

Hi there. It'll depend on how old the eggs are. If they're fertile then leave them under her and see what happens.

As for leaving well enough alone, you just need to have self control. Difficult, I completely understand, but you gotta do it. Just trust that the broody will get up once a day to eat, drink and poop. If you're going to candle the eggs, that is the time to do it instead of trying to steal them from under her.

Good luck!

The oldest egg was about 12 days, the others consecutively younger. I did leave them.
Thanks for the answer, sounds as if you know as much as me. X fingers crossed X Thanks for the reply.

 

[igorsMistress]

The oldest egg was about 12 days, the others consecutively younger. I did leave them.
Thanks for the answer, sounds as if you know as much as me. X fingers crossed X Thanks for the reply.

The older eggs will likely not hatch but younger eggs should be ok.

 

[50-45-1]

since this hen seems to be quite skittish, say away from her nesting area.
Mark your calendar 19 days from her first day sitting. Many times eggs start hatching on day 19.
This hen seems to need quiet and non disturbance. You will need to chill...and wait for her to get the job done.
I would not candle these. You dont want to break her mid hatch.
After day 23 i would discard any unhatched eggs.

 

[50-45-1]

FYI- the egg countdown to hatch starts from the first day of incubation, not the day they were laid.
So one egg for 12 days, hen begins sitting on day 13, the count starts on that day.
I hope there will not be new eggs laid in this nest now that the countdown has started.
This leads to stagered batch(not all eggs due to hatch at the same time) which always has a tragic and sad ending.

 

[Lids]

since this hen seems to be quite skittish, say away from her nesting area.
Mark your calendar 19 days from her first day sitting. Many times eggs start hatching on day 19.
This hen seems to need quiet and non disturbance. You will need to chill...and wait for her to get the job done.
I would not candle these. You dont want to break her mid hatch.
After day 23 i would discard any unhatched eggs.

Thank you. Eggs should hatch around the 16th of this month. Only 4 days away, I realize now !