Adding eggs under a broody hen

[Tracygdot]

Hello I have a hen who has been sitting on a clutch of eggs for 3 to 4 days. Is it too late to add more eggs under her?

 

[Lacy Duckwing]

Yes, in a sense. If all the eggs hatch 21 days from the day they were set, then the mother might leave the nest just before they hatch. If you have a back up incubator that will finish hatching them should they not hatch in time, then you might be able to still slip those chicks under her once they do hatch. Besides that, you might not want to chance it.

 

[RoyalChick]

Yes, in a sense. If all the eggs hatch 21 days from the day they were set, then the mother might leave the nest just before they hatch. If you have a back up incubator that will finish hatching them should they not hatch in time, then you might be able to still slip those chicks under her once they do hatch. Besides that, you might not want to chance it.

Really? My broody ladies rarely give up after 21 days if nothing hatches - they stay on ever hopeful!

 

[Lacy Duckwing]

Really? My broody ladies rarely give up after 21 days if nothing hatches - they stay on ever hopeful!

"If nothing hatches..." Unfortunately, a broody will stay sitting as long as nothing hatches. (That is, if they're a good brooder.) The chicks running around are usually what gets the hen to leave. Freshly hatched chicks can go awhile without food and water because of absorbing the egg yolk, but once that starts to wear off, and they're stronger to leave the nest, they start wandering further and the mother must stay with them. (This still goes even if the food and water is next to the nest.) That's when late chicks are unfortunately left behind despite still thriving.

 

[Not-so Slick Chicken]

Hatching eggs, a broody does the bare minimum to keep herself alive. Some completely neglect their health and won't leave the nest (don't want a broody like that)

Ideally, the eggs hatch at the same time within hours of each other. They can usually survive without food and water for about 2-3 days (that's why hatcheries ship day-old chicks)

Some broodies will stay on the nest, neglecting the health of herself AND her new chicks, waiting for those last eggs to hatch.
Some will abandon the eggs in favor of saving the chicks that need care.

I recommend not adding extra eggs. Make sure you know which ones are currently being set, and that no new ones are added. You can always hatch more eggs in the future!

 

[RoyalChick]

"If nothing hatches..." Unfortunately, a broody will stay sitting as long as nothing hatches. (That is, if they're a good brooder.) The chicks running around are usually what gets the hen to leave. Freshly hatched chicks can go awhile without food and water because of absorbing the egg yolk, but once that starts to wear off, and they're stronger to leave the nest, they start wandering further and the mother must stay with them. (This still goes even if the food and water is next to the nest.) That's when late chicks are unfortunately left behind despite still thriving.

Ah yes.
I, probably wrongly, assumed that adding eggs meant removing the ones in the nest now. Understand the risks of eggs with hatch dates several days apart.

 

[CherishedFowlGuardian]

If the eggs don’t hatch, you can find a place that sells 1–3 day old chicks and give them to the broody hen.

To do this, start by moving the broody hen to a dog crate or large brooder. Place her with her eggs and help her settle down. Wait until bedtime, then turn off the lights and carefully place the chicks under the broody hen. Make sure the chicks have had food and water before placing them under her. Also, leave food and water in the crate in case the chicks get hungry.

The brooder or crate should be located where you can hear the chicks if they start crying in the middle of the night. First thing in the morning, check on the chicks to see how they are doing and whether the mama hen is taking care of them. You should be able to see her keeping the chicks under her and encouraging them to eat. If she is not, you may need to help guide the chicks to the food and water and monitor her closely until she begins properly caring for them.