Broody hen question

[Fraser35]

So I have a first time Broody hen who sat on 5 eggs for a week to test if she was commited and now she is sitting on new eggs and she’s been on them for 20 days. Today I come to see her out having a dust bath which isn’t odd but she’s on lock down so she shouldn’t be out right?? I go and check her eggs and 2 are peeped?? The eggs are still warm but the outter ones are definitely colder.
What do I do ?? Wait a bit see if she gets back on or do I get my incubator going and put the eggs in it?

 

[Fraser35]

She is back on! Are the eggs gonna be okay??

 

[rebrascora]

I would wonder that the nest might be infested with mites if she is taking a dust bath at this critical stage. Broody hens are like a magnate to mites and lice because they afford them a 24/7 banqueting opportunity. I usually dust the nest material with DE before I set the hatching eggs and give it another couple of dusts during the incubation period. I had a very reliable broody abandon her nest with just a couple of days to go and when I checked it, the eggs and nest were crawling with red mites. Poor soul, I couldn't blame her for abandoning them. She was literally being
eaten alive and so would the chicks have been when they hatched. I always make a point of dusting the nests now and checking regularly for mites when I have a broody.
Hopefully your girl will manage to successfully hatch them now she has come back and/or mites are not the problem.

 

[HenniesInMyHeart]

It is okay if she took a short break! Don't worry! Moms start talking to their chicks after internal pip so they know what stage the babies are at.

 

[rita2paul]

mine got off her nest when they peeped to take a dust bath, no mites in the nest loads of DE in the box, she went back soon after.