Broody hen duration?

[Below frigid]

I have a young EE hen that just went broody. This is day 3 or 4. If I put fertile eggs under her will she sit for an additional 21 days? Should I have an incubator on hand just in case? Picking fertile eggs up today. Thanks for any help and or suggestions.

 

[Below frigid]

P.S., I did try and break her the first couple of days but she seems determined on golf balls now will sneek eggs in tonight. That's the plan anyway?

 

[Redhead Rae]

If she really is broody, she should sit for you. I had a hen that was broody for 2 weeks before I gave her eggs. She sat so well that I had to pull her off the nest to eat and drink once a day.

 

[Bunnylady]

EE's don't usually go broody, so there's no telling what this girl will do. She may go the distance, she may sit for a while and quit. Good luck; I'd have a backup plan if you really want chicks.

 

[Birdinhand]

I'd give her a full week from the first day you noticed her sitting, to make sure she is "determined", as often first timers don't really know the ropes and give up after a bit. as long as she is trans like, has the growly broody cluck and looks determined, you can add eggs later. you can also look for a broody poop, which is much larger than normal, allowing them to get up once a day for food and pooping. it's fine if they are off the eggs for a half hour or so about once a day. if she gives up, you have about 12 hours to get those eggs in a incubator without loosing them all and expect the hatch time to be a bit delayed. if you already have the eggs, and they are fresh, you can just keep them at room temp, out of the sun for a few more days without effecting fertility much just to make sure she is for reals. then, at night, swap the golf balls for the eggs and go for it! good luck, it's so fun to watch a broody hen do their thing, the mothering of chicks is adorable.

 

[Below frigid]

Where they lay and sleep are separate defending on the bird. Sleeping coop is closed at just before dark. This bird lays in our gazebo on a cushion? I had to pick her up and put her to bed last two nights only to find her back on the nest as soon as the sleeping coop opens. Going to leave her there tonight. Last two nights have been in the 20's supposed to get back to the 30's tomorrow night. I guess I will go to Tractor Supply tomorrow and get a incubator just in case.

 

[sourland]

Give her the eggs. She may very well go another 21 days, but have a back up plan B 'just in case'. Good luck.

 

[Larry Padgett]

My experience with broody hens is that they do not have a specific count down on the number of days they remain in setting mode. They interact with the egg/chicks especially during the final days development and they usually continue to sit on eggs that have live chicks in the egg, at least to a point. They also are driven to get the clutch out gathering food. So they will normally sit in eggs until they start hatching and then for a couple of days during the hatching process. So if the eggs are all on the same incubation schedule the extra few days are not a problem, but once the chicks start to hatch a new instinct takes over and there is a window for all of the eggs to be hatched. Also adding chicks, if done so during the setting process, especially at night where the chicks and hen establish sound rapport is not a problem. There is communication between chicks and hen while he chicks are still in the egg. If the hen sits through the night with chicks under her for the night, for most hens the communication link is established. However just adding chicks after the hen has left the nest with her brood usually will not work. Yet, hens are different and some hens are more accommodating to adding chicks than others.