Broody Hen no longer broody

[lillylusfarm]

I have a Blue Cochin hen who has been sitting on eggs for about 20 days now. She has about 14 eggs which all should be fertile (she kicked one out and there was a chick inside). As of this morning she has not been too interested in sitting on her clutch and has spent more time away than usual. Is there anything I can do to save the clutch? We don't have an incubator or the ability to get one soon enough.

 

[nchls school]

I have a Blue Cochin hen who has been sitting on eggs for about 20 days now. She has about 14 eggs which all should be fertile (she kicked one out and there was a chick inside). As of this morning she has not been too interested in sitting on her clutch and has spent more time away than usual. Is there anything I can do to save the clutch? We don't have an incubator or the ability to get one soon enough.

As it gets more towards evening she may settle down for the night; should the eggs start to hatch during the night all might be well.

Barring that, eggs need to be kept at app.100 degrees F. Some people have had luck putting the eggs under a low wattage light. Keep in mind, if the eggs get over 102 degrees the chick will die in the shell. Possibly a heat pad. Another broody hen? Your best bet is that the hen resumes brooding with the coming night. Quite possibly something has caused her to leave the nest. Another chicken? Rooster? Unfortunately, some hens just stop for no apparent reason. Good luck.

 

[lillylusfarm]

Thank you for your response. I checked on the eggs and they are cold
Only one egg of the 15 was hers, she was letting my Amerucanas lay their eggs to build the clutch and they would keep it warm while she got up and did her thing for a bit.

 

[MadamPoofyBrow]

I jsut had a hen abandon her nest half way through incubation. Fortunatly, I had another broody Silkie and stuck them under her. They are doing fine and she adopted them with no questions asked. If you don't have another hen or an incubator, I really don't know what to do.

 

[nchls school]

Thank you for your response. I checked on the eggs and they are cold
Only one egg of the 15 was hers, she was letting my Amerucanas lay their eggs to build the clutch and they would keep it warm while she got up and did her thing for a bit.

When something like this happens to me I look forward to next time; for fifty years I've been telling myself, "Maybe next time". And often those "next times" had great results.

 

[lillylusfarm]

One hatched this morning. He seems to being good so far.

 

[nchls school]