Previous years we used an incubator to hatch our chickens. This year we had a couple of broody hens, so we thought we'd separate them, and let them do it for us. The incubator took 21 days to hatch, does it take hens longer?
They are sitting on the nests, so everything "looks" right, but the timing is off from the incubator.

bonnie it takes 21 days under a hen too. hatching out can take a while but try not to disturb the eggs/nest during the last few days, as the chicks are getting into the proper position to pip their way out.

you're going to have tons of fun watching the mama and their little ones!

katie

Thanks Katie. They passed the 21 day point, we are going to give them another week and see what happens...

Our first broody hen sat on her clutch for 15 days before she got bored with it and stopped sitting.

Our second broody hen is currently on her 26th day of sitting on her clutch.

Our third broody hen is currently on her 6th day of sitting on her clutch of eggs.

hmmm.. either the eggs weren't fertile or maybe you got the dates mixed up? duck eggs take 28 days, chicken 21, i don't know about other species.

hope it works out! i have always had the hatch start on day 21, sometimes it's not til evening, but it's always 21 days from when i set the hen.

katie

Thank you,

These are chickens, and I write it on my calendar when we do it.

Cochins are the best hens for hatching eggs. Best to keep a few around if you don't want to use an incubator.

We were using cochins.