Hen left eggs at day 16. Will she mother them?

[MOyoChicks]

I have a five-year-old Buff Orpington that has hatched and raised several broods in past years. This year, I started her sitting on a clutch 12-14 days AFTER she started showing signs of being broody. (I won't be vacationing this time of year again!) She sat fine for 15-16 days. And then started NOT going back to the nest after she took her break. I locked her into the broody cage for a couple of days. I lock her in at night. She sits on the nest but is ready to get out in the morning. She still puffs up at the other hens. The eggs are at day 18. I currently have a heat lamp on the them. Will the chicks hatch at this stage with her only sitting at night? Should I continue to lock her in the cage and force her to incubate the eggs? Will she mother them when they hatch? Thank you.

 

[sourland]

I'd give it a try. Since she has raised chicks before, she may accept them, but my gut instinct is that she will not.

 

[MOyoChicks]

I'd give it a try. Since she has raised chicks before, she may accept them, but my gut instinct is that she will not.

Thank you!

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Why do you have a heat lamp on the hen, and did you start that before or after she started leaving the nest?