Broody behavior and reliability

[Coop de Grass]

I have a broody hen who was broody in May. She has decided to be broody again. I arrested her and threw her in broody jail, but the sly creature faked me out. Her behavior went back to normal after 3 days, so on Day 4 I turned her loose. Out with the flock all day, but then back into the nest box. She does go out in the morning and late afternoon, about an hour each time, but always goes right back to the nest box.

She allows other hens into her nest box but keeps the eggs covered and carefully retrieves any eggs that are laid. There are 6 nest boxes in all, but they all go in with her!

I have been thinking of putting day old chicks under her, but I'm not sure how it will work since she is off the nest for hour long periods of time. I've never had broody hens off of the nest for more than 15 minutes at a time. Is the length of time connected to the heat?

Any advice would great!

 

[Top Rooster]

I have a broody hen now who gets off the nest for about an hour every day and her eggs are coming along nicely, I wouldn’t worry about that and just get her some chicks if she keeps faking you out.

 

[bobbi-j]

If you give her chicks, you don't want her sitting on the nest anyway. She should be taking them off the nest, teaching them to eat, drink and be chickens. I had a broody last year that had her babies in with the flock within 24 hours of hatching. No one messed with her or her babies. The only time they were back at the nest was at night, and that was only for few weeks. She had them roosting as soon as she could get them on a roost.

 

[Coop de Grass]

I have a broody hen now who gets off the nest for about an hour every day and her eggs are coming along nicely, I wouldn’t worry about that and just get her some chicks if she keeps faking you out.

I guess I was hoping to be discouraged, though I would love more chicks!

 

[bobbi-j]

I guess I was hoping to be discouraged, though I would love more chicks!

Well, in that case... Don't do it! It will be a disaster! It'll never work!

 

[Coop de Grass]

If you give her chicks, you don't want her sitting on the nest anyway. She should be taking them off the nest, teaching them to eat, drink and be chickens. I had a broody last year that had her babies in with the flock within 24 hours of hatching. No one messed with her or her babies. The only time they were back at the nest was at night, and that was only for few weeks. She had them roosting as soon as she could get them on a roost.

Thank you! I've only had broody hens with chicks between February (Yup!) and June. Never when it is hot. This is a first summer hatch for me!

Thanks to you and @bobbi-j for taking me back to basics.

I've just managed to change my townships ordinances to allow chickens, and they are limiting me as to quantity... I used to have 24 hens and 4 roos! I now have 11 hens, and 5 pullets with the intention of rehoming some of the hens when the pullets start laying. I want really blue legbar eggs, none of this greeny blue legbar stuff!

So.... I'm only supposed to have 8 hens on my acre. .... my neighbors love my girls and miss the boys, so I am trying to stay under the radar!

 

[Coop de Grass]

Well, in that case... Don't do it! It will be a disaster! It'll never work!

 

[chickens really]

You can try it after about 10 to 14 days of being Broody..Take the eggs and slip in Chicks that are not human imprinted..

 

[rkinley]

I have a broody sort of.... she accepts eggs but only stays on the nest for a few hours and she is on the roost with everyone else. She is SUPER cranky, puffing up and screeching at the other boys. This bird hatched 3 chicks in May and I want her to hatch more but I'm afraid to put fertilized eggs under her if she isn't for real. I'm set to pick some up tomorrow. This has been going on for 3 days now.
Do they sort of "ramp up" to full on broody? Should I pick up the fertilized eggs or wait?

 

[bobbi-j]

I have a broody sort of.... she accepts eggs but only stays on the nest for a few hours and she is on the roost with everyone else. She is SUPER cranky, puffing up and screeching at the other boys. This bird hatched 3 chicks in May and I want her to hatch more but I'm afraid to put fertilized eggs under her if she isn't for real. I'm set to pick some up tomorrow. This has been going on for 3 days now.Do they sort of "ramp up" to full on broody? Should I pick up the fertilized eggs or wait?

I wouldn't spend money on fertilized eggs until I knew without a doubt she was committed - as in, on the nest day and night for at least 2 or 3 nights, flattened down like a pancake and giving everyone and everything the stink eye.