Broody Hen Question

[jermoatc]

I have a hen who has been broody for about a week and a half now. I decided to get her some fertile eggs to hatch. They should arrive today or tomorrow. What are the chances she will "break" early amd leave partially incubated eggs?

 

[Ridgerunner]

You are dealing with living animals so anything is possible. I think the chances of her seeing it through are pretty good, but you just never know.

 

[Cookie McT]

Mid-May was the 1st time any of my hens ever went broody, and since she refused to leave her (non-fertilized) eggs, feeling sorry for her I obtained a couple of fresh eggs from a neighbor with a Roo, and switched eggs. She had already been broody about 5 days. She remained on the eggs until they hatched, exactly 20 days after they were laid. Without being able to predict chicken behavior, I can say that it is certainly possible that she will stay on the eggs until hatching.

 

[Larkin]

When my first hen went broody I was clueless. Not til days went on with this odd behavior, did I look it up to see what was happening. Then a second hen started! So after almost 10 days of being broody, I gave them some fertilized eggs from the other hens and they sucessfully hatched 4 chicks of 7 eggs. They continued to sit on the eggs that didn't hatch even after the other chicks hatched out. They gave up on some that ended up not hatching out in time. (they were smelly and decomposing when I peeked inside)
I think you will have good luck, what kind of hen do you have? Mine were BO and EE. BO was a great protective mother and EE was so laid back. Good luck, wonderful to watch nature take it's course!

 

[Judy]

I've had several broodies hatch chicks and never had one abandon her eggs, except the one I tried to move to a completely different nest and location. I had stayed with her to watch, and after a while I just put her back where I took her from, and she settled happily in, and hatched the eggs.

 

[jermoatc]

Larkin, My broody is a BO too. I have another one too so if the first one does break early i am hoping the other might start too. I understand orpingtons are a very broody breed.
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[jermoatc]

Thanks to all for your input. Yall are so helpful.

 

[kegbergman]

I too am having issues with a BO that has been broody for about a week. I am intersted in obtaining some fertilized eggs to help her through this, but I don't know how she and my other hen would react to new chicks. Would she continue to "mother" them or would I need to separate the chicks once hatched? Karen