Broody Hen....Caught!

[SaraC833]

Hi everyone,

We have a Broody Buff Orpington...and have given her a clutch of 7 to try to hatch out. She's got a comfortable broody box set up away from other birds....in my basement. I che k on her several times a day...but I when I went to check on her this afternoon...she had gotten up to relive herself. When she got back on the eggs...she missed sitting on 2....not sure how long she was off them. Do I just need to be checking more often??

Also.... she ...and the egss are definitely wet....is that normal?? I would imagine so... but want to be sure

 

[featheredplanets]

It’s best to keep checking to a minimum, you’ll start to stress her out. It’s fine if she missed them for a couple of hours, is the bedding flat so she can easily pull them to her?

Not sure being wet is normal. My broodies and eggs never were. The eggs and the hen’s belly may feel a bit moist from humidity, if she’s relieving herself in the nest. But they shouldn’t be wet.

 

[SaraC833]

It’s best to keep checking to a minimum, you’ll start to stress her out. It’s fine if she missed them for a couple of hours, is the bedding flat so she can easily pull them to her?

Not sure being wet is normal. My broodies and eggs never were. The eggs and the hen’s belly may feel a bit moist from humidity, if she’s relieving herself in the nest. But they shouldn’t be wet.

Ok.... the bedding is flat... and we'll keep our interactions to a minimum. Maybe wet wasnt the best description.... but moist.....like she's sweaty.

Weird.

Thanks!!

 

[50-45-1]

... but moist.....like she's sweaty.

Can you tell us more about this.
Is there like water droplets on her outer feathers?
Are you talking about a clamy fealing on her bare skin of her belly?
My concern is she is in a situation where the dampness from her breathing is building up miosture and condensation. Not good....

 

[SaraC833]

Can you tell us more about this.
Is there like water droplets on her outer feathers?
Are you talking about a clamy fealing on her bare skin of her belly?
My concern is she is in a situation where the dampness from her breathing is building up miosture and condensation. Not good....

Its definitely more like a clammy moist.... when I examined the eggs.... while replacing the one that she had not tucked under....the other eggs were moist. Her bare belly seems moist. She is in a well ventilated area in the house....not drafty...but not contained either. Her outter feathers are totally dry.

 

[50-45-1]

Sounds like perfectly normal and natural supply of humidity to the hatching process.
They feel clamy, OK...dripping wet would be wrong.

 

[SaraC833]

I figured out what was going on....she broke two of the eggs.......and has since stopped laying on the other eggs. I've removed them and am hoping that she'll continue to be broody and then I can give more to try again.

 

[aart]

She's probably not happy in the basement.
Isn't there somewhere in the coop she can set?
How long had she been broody when you moved her to the basement?

When I have a broody I wait until she's been in the nest most the day and all night for 2-3 days...along with those other signs I posted.

Then I put her in the broody enclosure with fake eggs in the floor nest, she won't like being moved, but if she is truly good and broody she will settle onto the new nest within a half a day.
Then I give her fresh fertile eggs and mark the calendar.

I like them separated by wire from the flock, it's just easier all around.
No having to mark eggs and remove any additions daily, no taking up a laying nest, no going back to the wrong nest after the daily constitutional.

 

[SaraC833]

She's probably not happy in the basement.
Isn't there somewhere in the coop she can set?
How long had she been broody when you moved her to the basement?

When I have a broody I wait until she's been in the nest most the day and all night for 2-3 days...along with those other signs I posted.

Then I put her in the broody enclosure with fake eggs in the floor nest, she won't like being moved, but if she is truly good and broody she will settle onto the new nest within a half a day.
Then I give her fresh fertile eggs and mark the calendar.

I like them separated by wire from the flock, it's just easier all around.
No having to mark eggs and remove any additions daily, no taking up a laying nest, no going back to the wrong nest after the daily constitutional.

Super appreciate the post.....thanks!
We definitely have an additional space outside....that is close to the coop. She was on the nest for 3 days...3 night before we moved her. But perhaps didn't give her the time to adjust.
Thanks for the advice