wondering about adding eggs later to a clutch?

[pertybirdy]

I have a broody that has been sitting on 5 eggs for 3 days now, am going to get some different breed eggs from somebody elses hens (not sure my banty roo is actually getting the job done around here) to set under her. my question, should I just toss the eggs shes already been sitting on and start a whole new batch with the new ones? I just dont know if 3 days would be too long of a difference when the hatching begins.. what would you do?

 

[Kikiriki]

Remember when she is sitting she hardly gets out for food and water... The longer she has to sit there, the worse her condition will be. Cant you just save the other eggs? Or hatch them in an incubator and then sneak the young chicks into the nest at night?

 

[rleepac]

When I saw my hen was sitting for about 3 days I added 3 eggs for 2 nights in a row. I was just trying to increase the odds of having some hatch. Maybe it wasn't the best choice but it seemed to work out ok.

In the end it looks like she had 12 eggs under her. 7 hatched just fine.. then 4-5 days later I have one more trying to hatch and no movement on the other 3 (yet). Mama is still sitting and tending to the babies too so I guess I'll let her decide when to give up on the last 3.

 

[pertybirdy]

Well I added 6 more eggs on the third day.
I do not have an incubator, so that was not an option for me. I have been making sure she gets up and out of the coop once a day to eat and drink and such, she seems to be doing fine. Expecting hatching to start around Thurs- thru the weekend. I cant wait!