Almost Broody Hen

[PrincessTrudeia]

I've got an almost broody hen (Columbian Rock), and by almost, I mean she's fickle about sitting on eggs. If she's broody, I would like to get he fertilized eggs, but she's not consistent enough, I don't think.

For a little over a week, she will sit in the nest all morning and some of the afternoon, then she is done for the day. Just the other day she spent the entire day and night on the nest. Next morning, she got out and never went back in until the next morning.

Will it take a long time for her to be consistent? So far she is still laying eggs.

 

[nchls school]

I've got an almost broody hen (Columbian Rock), and by almost, I mean she's fickle about sitting on eggs. If she's broody, I would like to get he fertilized eggs, but she's not consistent enough, I don't think.

For a little over a week, she will sit in the nest all morning and some of the afternoon, then she is done for the day. Just the other day she spent the entire day and night on the nest. Next morning, she got out and never went back in until the next morning.

Will it take a long time for her to be consistent? So far she is still laying eggs.

Not all hens make good broody hens; even hens from breeds known to be good brooders.

As for yours, she will not become consistent in brooding until she is done laying eggs and there is no telling how long that will be. It could be tomorrow or next week or never.

Are you leaving eggs in the nest? While many hens will brood an empty nest, others will continue to lay more and more eggs trying to build a clutch.

If you want her to brood and you've been collecting the eggs, put 4 or 5 dummy eggs in the nest and then another dummy egg for each new egg she lays.

Good luck.