Breaking a broody with eggs ready to hatch??

[Wyleiria]

I have posted on here before concerning my astralorp who goes broody about every 4-6 weeks. Here we go again. My question is, I have eggs in the incubator on day 17. If I put a couple of eggs under her and they hatch in a few days, will she snap out of her broodiness seeing the new chicks "she" hatched, or will she not care for them because she will have only sat on these eggs 4 or 5 days before hatching???

 

[Tuhmu]

It all depends on the hen, some will adopt anything and can be fooled into thinking they had the shortest hatch ever. Others are a bit more suspicious. Though since you have a few days before they hatch, she MIGHT get used to them with the peeping and movement.

The only way to know would be to give it a try.

 

[Tuhmu]

How long has she currently been broody?

 

[Percheron chick]

I would just finish them at this point and give them to her after they hatch. Move her where you want her to brood the chicks now so she's ready for them.

 

[Wyleiria]

Only two days. But she has been doing the "brood cluck" about a week now. She will not leave the nest unless I force her and I'm tired of putting her in the "time out cage" every 6 weeks.

 

[donrae]

I'd sure give it a try. I don't think it would matter if you gave her the eggs or the chicks, either way. Just be prepared to brood the babies just in case.

Just out of curiosity...why did you have eggs in an incubator if you have such a dependable broody? Letting the hen do it is so much less work, and makes her so happy!