I've a hen sitting on 14 eggs and is now day 22. Two chicks were born yesterday morning but none of the other eggs have hatched yet (at least 29 hours later). I suspect some of the eggs may be from other hens who laid in her nest once she was broody. She is still sitting and I am concerned for the 2 live chicks. They are sitting under her, shouldn't they be up scratching and eating, and her along with them? I took 4 eggs from her and tried to candle them but I couldn't see anything. I cracked them and 2 were rotten and 2 had small dead chicks in them. Any advice on how to proceed? Should I wait and let her sit, or will that jepordise the 2 live ones? Thanks for any advice for a newbie!
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In the US, hatcheries ship day-old chicks by mail, and it sometimes takes as long as two or three days to arrive. There's no problem at all if it take two days, but in cases where it's taken three, we've lost a couple out of a box of 100 chicks.
Go ahead and let her sit for about 12 more hours. The chicks under her will be ok without food or water for 24-48 hours. If none hatch after 12 hours, then try and get her off. She may not want to move if the remaining eggs are still gestating, but it's unlikely.
She sounds like an awesome broody hen though, if she's sitting on 14 eggs. Go little chicken Mama!