Broody behavior

[SussexInSeattle]

I hope I chose the right place to ask this. I have two broody hens but have no rooster so I went out and bought the girls a dozen fertile eggs, some RIR and some RIW's. They each got their six but my Speckled Sussex is now down to four, one was never fertile and one cracked which eventually 'disappeared' by consumption.

Question is unrelated to all that though. What I have been wondering is when the girls come off the nests to eat and dustbathe and generally growl and show attitude, how long should they be staying off the nests in this later stage of incubation?

The mornings are pretty cold here and I read everyone's advice of 'keep those incubators SHUT' so I wondered if the hens going off their nests is retarding the development of the 10 surviving eggs?

Do they know instinctually how long they can stay out? I sometimes herd them back when it seems they have been out for a real long time. Is that wrong and should I be letting them decide for themselves? I herd them to the barn door then they go into their nests after they get through the door, I don't physically place them on the nests.

{Oooops, forgot to add that hatchdate is this FRiday the 26th of June, I assume around 8:30 PM}

 

[TexasVet]

The girls know how long they can be gone, and I've had some leave the nest all night long without affecting the hatch.

Give them all the time off they want today and tomorrow, because when the chicks start cheeping and piping, they won't leave the nest. In the heat we're having around here, I feed mine bits of moistened bread to keep them hydrated.

Kathy, Bellville TX
www.CountryChickens.com, www.PivotalForce.com

 

[SussexInSeattle]

Thank you for your good advice.

When the chicks start cheeping, is it audible to human ears? Even if under their broodies? Seems like the time is just DRAGGING!

When they hatch will we know it has happened? Would it be OK to lower the one really high nest box either to the ground or up on a cement block on the ground? Currently it sets at about waist height on an old work bench or counter top that has been in the barn since long before the chickens. It really wasn't ever supposed to be a nest box at all, it is just a small dog kennel that was sitting there being stored and my SS decided to go broody in it!

Sorry, it is our first babies so I have a million questions.

 

[Mahonri]

Here, our hens could leave their nest most of the afternoon and the eggs would still be at 100 or over!

 

[SussexInSeattle]

I know, I know! I lived there for 17 years, believe me I know! But now I have escaped to the land of free airconditioning and constant RAIN! Yay!

What do you do when the temps are 112? Don't the chickies cook inside the shells?

BTW, what part of PHoenix are you in again?

 

[Ridgerunner]

You are getting good advice. I'd leave them alone and let mama take care of her business. And don't get too precise on the hatch date. Some eggs can be early, some can be late.

One thing to be aware of. This does not happen all the time so don't panic, but there are sometimes problems when two broodies hatch at the same general time. Sometimes one broody wants to take over all the chicks to raise. She will try to take the chicks, the other mama is obviously going to be protective and vigorously oppose the kidnapping. Physical violence can ensue and innocent chick bystanders can occasionally get hurt. Not often, but it can happen. I have seen posts on here where one hen will try to kill the chicks of the other hen. Again, not often.

Sometimes two broodies will work together to raise the chicks, sometimes the two will stay separate and have no issues. They are living creatures hyped up on hormones. I can't tell you what they will do for sure. I don't know. It depends so much on the individual hens and a little bit on how much room they have.

You have different options. You can leave them alone and let nature take its course. They might get along fine or they may decide among themselves and one broody might wind up raising all the chicks. When they hatch, you can try giving all the chicks to one hen to raise and break the other from being broody. You can keep them separate from hatch until the chicks are weaned. You may plan to observe and be prepared to intervene only if necessary.

Again, I'll say I don't know what will happen. I want you to be aware of some of the things that could happen so you can think about it, be prepared, and make an informed decision.

Welcome to godmotherhood. Good luck!