Broodie hen and lockdown

[Chicalina]

It is day 16 today. Last batch hatched on day 18 and 19 and only 2 out of 6 hatched. I suspect too high humidity and they drowned. I want to get a better % hatch this time. Good news it is cooler temps here now, but still very damp.

Should I still take the broodie off the nest to poop and exercise or just leave her be? I'm worried this could end up being for 3 to 5 days. Surely she can't not poop for that long and her legs will atrophy.

I've had to get her out for a toilet/food/drink/exercise break every day until now because she won't leave the nest otherwise and its been too hot. I've put water and food right next to her but not sure if she is eating or drinking any of it. The nest is 2 feet up so not sure if she will jump down on her own either. I've left the door open all day in case she wants to.

I am a little torn between taking care of my hen and ensuring more chicks make it.

 

[Buffbrahmasforever]

After 17 days I wouldn't mess with her. She is built to do this, it's natural. She doesn't need to eat or drink or get up during lockdown. And getting up could ruin the hatch. Let her do her thing.

 

[kiwi-chick]

21 days for hatching.... after day 14 I leave them be and they do a fine job!

EDIT: Prior to day 14 I chuck them off the nest first thing in the morning (when I get up - not them) and then leave them alone for the rest of the day.

 

[The Happster]

I take my broodies off twice per day for a monitored break.
When it gets to day 18, I continue to take her off, once per day. She comes out for about ten minutes each time, sometimes longer, sometimes shorter.
Never had a problem.
Broodies aren't machines. She may be able to hold on, but I feel happier knowing my broody has been out.
After the first pip, I leave her on there.
If the time between the first pip and the last hatch is too long, I take her off at a time that seems safe.
Getting off for a few minutes to do her business and get some water will do no harm.

 

[bobbi-j]

Chickens have managed to hatch their eggs on their own for centuries without human interference. They were created to do just that. Generally they like to come off the nest when they think no one is watching them. I’ve been raising chickens for well over 30 years and have never had a chicken die on the nest.

 

[Chicalina]

thanks everyone. She is such a committed broodie, I thought she would sacrifice her own health for the eggs.

But now it all seems moot. I just went out to check on her and she had taken herself off the eggs for a break. I don't know how long for but they were pretty cold to the touch. She wanted to get back to them but seemed confused because she had to jump up (I had swapped her and the other broodie who has chicks around, so the chicks could get in and out of the lower box). I put her back in the box and she settled straight back onto the eggs.

I've messed up and I'm fuming with myself now . What are the chances of any of them hatching now? I'm gutted.

Just a waiting game now. Maybe I will candle tonight and see if there is any movement. Aaarrrgghh!

 

[Chicalina]

As for 21 days, yes I know that is the average but these are bantams and based on that and the last hatch 3 weeks ago, I am expecting them to hatch from around day 18 onwards. Though after today's debacle, probably not at all

 

[The Happster]

I wouldn't worry yet.
I've had eggs go pretty cold when I did the same thing. All of them hatched.
Just wait it out.
If you need to, move her back to the eggbox of her choice. You can move her to a better place once all that will hatch have hatched.
Don't stress.

 

[Chicalina]

thank you, I appreciate all the advice and support.

I'm trying to manage competing demands here with the existing chicks getting integrated into the flock before they get too big (and quite frankly they need more space now and are messing up their box), and the broodie on eggs needing to get in/out or not as the case may be. She can easily jump up 2 feet so I didn’t foresee a problem. She has no idea where she is when the door is closed.

I'm going to try and stop fussing.

Tomorrow I could leave the door open and watch. If she gets off, I'll put her back after 15 mins. If she doesn't then I'll close the door up. Or should I just keep her confined with food/water from now on?

 

[bobbi-j]

thanks everyone. She is such a committed broodie, I thought she would sacrifice her own health for the eggs.

But now it all seems moot. I just went out to check on her and she had taken herself off the eggs for a break. I don't know how long for but they were pretty cold to the touch. She wanted to get back to them but seemed confused because she had to jump up (I had swapped her and the other broodie who has chicks around, so the chicks could get in and out of the lower box). I put her back in the box and she settled straight back onto the eggs.

I've messed up and I'm fuming with myself now . What are the chances of any of them hatching now? I'm gutted.

Just a waiting game now. Maybe I will candle tonight and see if there is any movement. Aaarrrgghh!

They’re probably fine. Even if they’re cool to then touch on the outside, it takes time for them to cool down that much inside the egg. My broody was off her eggs for a couple of hours early on, and they still hatched on day 20. If it’s hot there, the eggs probably weren’t affected at all.