[EggBound]

My broody hen has been sitting tight on 9 eggs for the last 16 days, but today seems to have given up.    She is marching up and down the coop trying to get out.  As I have just got home from work I don't know how long she has been doing this, although she was out early this morning as well and I shut her in the house hoping she would settle back down.  How long can I leave the eggs before I admit defeat and bin them and put her back with the other chickens?

[Vember]

Only way to tell is to try candling them I'm afraid, I've had a duck egg near to hatch feel stone cold, I popped it in the incy whilst i let the other birds out. Candled it half an hour later and it was alive

Really depends how long she's been off, and from the sounds of it she could have been off all day

Sarah

[Caralou]

One of mine did this the first time I tried to hatch some eggs  - Vember's duck eggs in fact - and I lost the lot as I didn't have an incy I could move them into  If she wants off I'm not sure what can be done about it. Is it her first time at sitting?

[EggBound]

Yes, its her first time sitting.  Last time she went broody it took more than 6 weeks to stop her, so I thought she might do it.  I've put her back with the other 2 chickens now, as she refused to stay with the eggs.  One of the other chickens has been attacking her since she got back - hopefully they will settle by the morning.  I haven't got an incubator so I think that will be the end of any chances at hatching - shame really as they were due Friday/Saturday this week. 

[Caralou]

  You can always try again in the future if another chook goes broody. I have a different one broody at the moment and she is sitting very well (too well, she refuses to get off them ever!). Shame they were so far along though 

[joyfull]

sad to say but perhaps she couldn't feel any movement in them anymore so decided enough was enough  .

[Caralou]

Could well be, nature is an amazing thing.

[broodyhen]

OMG! They can feel them moving around in the egg???

[joyfull]

yep they sure can