Broody Hen Emergency

[TheSmallestEgg]

Hello!
My hen has been sitting on eggs on my front porch for almost a full 3 weeks. Hatch day is set for Tomorrow and Sat. It snowed last night and its 37 degrees right now. I just checked and shes GONE.

I dont know if shes just a bad sitter. I touched the eggs, they're almost cold. Should I take her eggs and put them in the incubator? I have one running right now. I dont want them to die!

Please help. I noticed at 9:40 am est. I

 

[DobieLover]

Hello!
My hen has been sitting on eggs on my front porch for almost a full 3 weeks. Hatch day is set for Tomorrow and Sat. It snowed last night and its 37 degrees right now. I just checked and shes GONE.

I dont know if shes just a bad sitter. I touched the eggs, they're almost cold. Should I take her eggs and put them in the incubator? I have one running right now. I dont want them to die!

Please help. I noticed at 9:40 am est. I

Where is she? I'd find her and put her back on the nest and lock her in so she can't leave again then monitor. If she gets off the nest again, carefully take the eggs and get them in the incubator and get your brooder set up.

 

[TheSmallestEgg]

Where is she? I'd find her and put her back on the nest and lock her in so she can't leave again then monitor. If she gets off the nest again, carefully take the eggs and get them in the incubator and get your brooder set up.

I think she ran away to my neighbors hard. She does she often. Shes not particularly friendly and I worry if I chase her shell never come back. This is her first year, shes a pheonix hen and I really just let her do as she pleases because usually every spring I have a few hens hide and just hatch out chicks. But I've never had one get up this often to be honest. How long is too long in this weather? It's been at least 20 minutes now.

 

[DobieLover]

I think she ran away to my neighbors hard. She does she often. Shes not particularly friendly and I worry if I chase her shell never come back. This is her first year, shes a pheonix hen and I really just let her do as she pleases because usually every spring I have a few hens hide and just hatch out chicks. But I've never had one get up this often to be honest. How long is too long in this weather? It's been at least 20 minutes now.

At this stage of development in these temps, I'd take the eggs.
It doesn't sound like she's going to be a particularly good mother.

 

[MGG]

Definitely get them in your incubator asap.

 

[TheSmallestEgg]

Definitely get them in your incubator asap.

Hi! She was gone for a total of about 30 minutes. At this stage, do hens typically get up still? If she gets back up tomorrow, should I grab them? I was under the impression that like, the last few days, the hens dont move. Hence why we lock down the incubators. I've never dealt with a bad mom hen before. I definitely need the scoop on this.

 

[MGG]

Is she not back yet? They're probably dead by now if they're not in an incubator or the hen isn't on them. They would have had to go in as soon as you realized she left.

 

[TheSmallestEgg]

Is she not back yet? They're probably dead by now if they're not in an incubator or the hen isn't on them. They would have had to go in as soon as you realized she left.

No no she returned shortly after. I'm saying she was gone for 30 or so minutes. I was asking about tomorrow. If she does this again, is it not okay? Like I was under the impression hens dont get up this late in the game?

 

[MGG]

No no she returned shortly after. I'm saying she was gone for 30 or so minutes. I was asking about tomorrow. If she does this again, is it not okay? Like I was under the impression hens dont get up this late in the game?

If they are hatching tomorrow she probably won't get up. If she does, any pipped ones will shrink-wrap. If she gets up I would mist the eggs with warm water and see if she comes back in under 30 minutes. If sh doesn't, put them in the incubator. 30 minutes is usually the average time broods are off of the nest.

 

[TheSmallestEgg]

If they are hatching tomorrow she probably won't get up. If she does, any pipped ones will shrink-wrap. If she gets up I would mist the eggs with warm water and see if she comes back in under 30 minutes. If sh doesn't, put them in the incubator. 30 minutes is usually the average time broods are off of the nest.

Thank you so so much!