Wyandotte broody leaving nest

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moali99

moali99

Songster
8 Years
Apr 10, 2015
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Hi there ive got a wyandotte broody hen that should be on lock down (day 20). She doesn't seem to be stable with the eggs, as she keeps getting up. Of my knowledge I know that she should be very comitted in the lockdown stage as its a day before hatch day. Ive checked the eggs a few times and they aren't as warm as they should be. So I've decided to take them in and put them in the incubator as I really want them to hatch tommorow. Have I done the right thing?
 
I'd have left the eggs with her but it's a personal choice. She's brought them thus far so should be able to hatch them. She may be standing up as they move in shell. I'd think they'd be fine and want to see her play it out to prove she's a good broody or not to use in the future.
 
Egghead_Jr said:
I'd have left the eggs with her but it's a personal choice. She's brought them thus far so should be able to hatch them. She may be standing up as they move in shell. I'd think they'd be fine and want to see her play it out to prove she's a good broody or not to use in the future.
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I honestly was planning that in the beginning, but this one has quite a story to it. The rooster who'd fertilised her eggs is the same breed as her and he was sadly taken by a fox about a week ago. So I can't really risk losing the chicks if you know what I mean. But if you think thats its natural behaviour for her to do this then I may put them back under her. Thanks
 
I don't know how natural it is in if they always do that. I don't keep that close tabs on my brooding hens. It seems logical and more so for a first time brooder. Getting up to see what's going on. At this stage the chicks regulate their own body temp being a warm blooded animal. As long as she doesn't abandon the nest and sits enough to keep them from getting too cold all is well.
 
Did you candle the eggs to see if they had live embryos before you put them in the incubator? I have seen hens get up while the eggs just started to hatch but they go out to poop and take a quick bite at the feeder the return to the nest until all the chicks hatch.
 
FarmerMac said:
Did you candle the eggs to see if they had live embryos before you put them in the incubator? I have seen hens get up while the eggs just started to hatch but they go out to poop and take a quick bite at the feeder the return to the nest until all the chicks hatch.
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I did candle them as soon I put them in the incubator this morning yes, but I found it hard to see any movement inside the eggs as they're so dark inside, they're also bantam eggs. I've just left them inside the incubator hoping that they do hatch tommorow. Its just that I found it a little untypical for the hen to leave the nest a day before hatch day, as I've never experienced similar behaviour from previous broody's I've had.
 
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That is good, hopefully they all hatch. Did your hen completely leave the nest or is she still sitting? If she is, I would put some eggs until, the chicks hatch, then swap the eggs for the chicks at night.
 
FarmerMac said:
That is good, hopefully they all hatch. Did your hen completely leave the nest or is she still sitting? If she is, I would put some eggs until, the chicks hatch, then swap the eggs for the chicks at night.
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Great idea thanks a lot. I've just done that now so now I'm just being hopeful for tommorow
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