Broody Hen Expiry Date??

[Just Because]

Hey everyone, just wondering if there is a limit as to how long you can let a hen be broody for before putting eggs under her.

Was just thinking about it today. Several chook books I have say to leave a hen for at least a week to actually make sure she is broody and it got me thinking if there was a time limit you would have before she is likely to call it quits and stop trying to be mum for a while.

Any information would be great and anyone's thoughts on the matter would be greatly appreciated also

 

[HEChicken]

I usually don't leave them as long as a week. If after about 2 days and 2 nights where they are consistently broody, I put eggs under 'em

As for how long you can wait, I've never let them sit without being on fertile eggs so I don't have personal experience but from what I've read, the determined ones will stay broody either until they hatch something or you try to break them. However it isn't that good for their health to sit because they don't eat or drink well, and their legs aren't getting a lot of circulation from just sitting. So I wouldn't leave her too long. If I were waiting to get fertile eggs in the mail, I could see it taking a bit longer but otherwise I try to get eggs under her as soon as I'm sure she's serious about it.