Winter hatch, broody hen off the eggs on day 19

[Cinnaqueen3305]

It’s winter here and the temps have been solidly in the 30s and 40s. I have a clutch of 5 eggs and a broody bantam hen who has sat very faithfully, but twice now she’s hopped off to sit on a couple eggs that my other hens lay in the morning (after I leave for work and can’t collect them). I candled them after the first time and they still seemed healthy-veins were clearly visible, some were twitching. Today I came home to get eggs and she was off them again and sitting on 2 eggs in a different spot! It’s day 19 girlfriend!!! Wtf? They were cold to the touch. I put her right back on them and she settled down, seems to be content. Am I going to see a total loss? I’ve done some searching through forums and lots of people have said it may just delay them a couple days if they got too cold. I hate to candle them again this close to hatch day. Help me out here!

 

[sourland]

It will all depend upon how long she was off them and how cold they got. My gut instinct is that they will still hatch if they were viable to begin with,

 

[gimmie birdies]

Hens can be off eggs up to 12 hrs and eggs will still be viable.

 

[Willow2253]

The further along the eggs are the better they hold their own heat. I’ve had hens off of the eggs multiple times during a hatch to the point of them feeling cold, and the viable ones still hatched. I wouldn’t worry too much, and expect to see chicks in a few days.