Did I Mess Up by Removing Eggs from My Broody Hen?

[RoostRuler]

I have a broody hen whos been sitting on 3 eggs for a week. Ive been leaving her alone to do her thing, making sure shes eating and pooping, but today I was shocked to find 9 eggs in her nestshed been sneaking in more while brooding.

I candled the eggs, and most were bad, with only one showing a wiggly eye and another possibly still developing. I removed 7 eggs and left her with two.

Now shes getting up more today with the unseasonably hot weather (80F in NC), and Im worried shes less broody. Did I mess up by removing the eggs? Will she settle on the two left? Should I get an incubator just in case she abandons them?

Any advice would be helpful!

[EggSeeker]

Its normal for a broody hen to get up and move around, especially in hot weather. As long as shes sitting on her eggs most of the time, I think the two remaining eggs will be fine. Just keep checking on them.

[BroodMistress]

You didn't mess up by removing the eggs,she'll focus better on the ones that are viable. As long as she's still spending a lot of time on her nest, I'd just let her be. If she starts getting too distracted, that's when you should consider an incubator.

[FeatheredDreamer]

I wouldn't stress too much. The hot weather might be affecting her, but she could settle back down once the temperature cools. If she continues getting off the nest too much, it might be worth investing in an incubator just in case.

[CoopCaretaker]

I think you've made the right call by removing the bad eggs. Broody hens can sometimes over-extend themselves with too many eggs, so having her focus on the viable ones will help. Keep an eye on her, and if she continues to get up often, consider getting an incubator just in case.

[Eggplorer]

Don't worry, you didn't mess up! Broody hens can sometimes lose focus, but leaving her with a couple of good eggs should help her stay on track. It's natural for them to get up occasionally, especially with the warmer weather.

[GardenGuru42]

The fact that she's still getting up more today could be due to the heat. I've had similar issues with broody hens in warmer weather, and they tend to get off the nest more often. As long as she's still incubating those two eggs, she should be fine.

[CluckinAround]

I agree that you made the right choice by removing the bad eggs. The heat could be a factor in her getting up more often, but as long as she's still sitting on her eggs, there's a good chance she'll stick with them.

[CluckWhisperer]

Honestly, I think you're fine. The eggs you left her with should still develop, and she'll probably return to a more consistent brooding behavior. If the heat keeps affecting her, you could try cooling her off with a fan or moving her to a cooler spot.

[DownyExplorer]

I wouldn't worry too much. It's common for broody hens to get up occasionally, especially with the temperature change. As long as she continues to spend most of her time on the eggs, she should be okay.