huge disappointment :( please help!

I am not a very experienced hen keeper but here is what I have experienced so far, I have a cockerel so there is no reason why my eggs arent fertile, my hens (2) have gone broody and sat - the 1st time was succesful with one chick being born.

The 2nd attempt they clutched a group of 11 eggs (i didnt realise!) obviously these were laid daily and nothing happened with any of the eggs, I am told that the hens realise when something isnt going to happen - 1 hen got off after about the 21 day point but big hen sat and sat for around 6 weeks, eventually I removed them.

the 3rd try there was 4 eggs and only one hatched again both hens sat of the clutch of 4 eggs, after a couple of days - one hens brought the chick out and the bigger hen carried on sitting but again nothing and she left the eggs about 1 week later.

So if I was you I would wait until the 20th odd days - it can take longer than 21 dependant on the breed and if nothing happens this time, then try and pop some day old chicks under her, Ive read on here that some hens dont accept them and some do. I only have one chick but the two hens shared the mothering responsibility.

Hope that helps, it is so disappointing when your counting down the days.

good luck

Like dark brown eggs I have often used a hen as a foster mum and never had them reject the chicks. But really the time for hatching is usually in the spring and early summer - frosty weather is on the way.

oh, one wee egg seems to be hanging on in there! so she's on that still.  If it's not viable Im not having her sit on any more eggs or chicks, I'll wait until next year. If this one is a CockerEl that's fine, I have 2.5 acres of land with no neighbours for half a mile each side, as for chick/s in autumn, I have a 6 car garage that I use for my rabbits in winter so hen already has a house and large pen inside there (car is banished to the driveway lol) that will do them over winter, Ive got it covered!