Broody Hen question

[nwe319]

About a week ago one of my black silkie hens went broody (surprise surprise) and has not come off her eggs since. My roosters are only 18 weeks old this week, and I thought that there was no way her eggs were fertile, so today for the first time she left her nestand walked outside the coop, I picked the eggs up, thinking they were not fertile, but just to check I lightly shook one, behold my surprise when it is evident there is a chick in there. To be sure I picked up another, same thing, another chick. My question is 1) is it normal for the hen to leave the nest for a few minutes sometimes, and 2) did I mess them up bypicking them up? Will she return to them? Thanks!

 

[Judy]

They should leave the nest at least once a day and do the usual chicken things -- which includes getting a little needed exercise. Mine will often even dust bathe, and forage for a minute. But they're back on the nest in 10 to 20 minutes -- which is fine for the eggs. No, it didn't mess anything up for you to check them. Many people even candle them while broodies are setting. (Actually, it's a myth that handling eggs will make a wild bird abandon a nest.)

Here's a good thread on broodies you might be interested in:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/594909/good-article-on-letting-a-broody-incubate-and-hatch-eggs