How long do we wait?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Anonymous
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Anonymous

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We have a broody hen with 10 eggs which has been sitting for 3 weeks now. One hatched on Sunday the 17th, how long do we leave her sitting on the remaining eggs? We have no idea whether they are fertile or not.
Any thoughts would be appreciated as this is our first experience with a broody hen.
Bryan and Rita Price
 
It's not totally unusual to get one or two chicks hatching a day or so early. Is it 21 days now or was it 21 days when the other chick hatched?
Also if the hen is still sitting she prob knows that there is life in them there eggs!! Can you get them out one by one and tap on the eggs and put them to your ear to listen for chipping and/or cheeping?
I would say when you get to 23 days and with no noise, you can safely assume that no more will hatch and you can dispose of the eggs. Don't, unless you have a very poor sense of smell, be tempted to open the eggs 'just to see' as I did years ago, jeez I can still remember that smell!!

Thanksully, one chick with a broody is no trouble at all unlike a lonely chick from an incubator. Just migh be a bit spoilt and have 'only chick syndrome', LOL.

Fingers x#d more will hatch for you
 
Thanks for your reply.
It was 21 days for the only chick to hatch.
We will dispose of the eggs if no more hatch on Saturday.
All the Best
Bryan :
 
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