Broody hen question

[feldon]

I have a broody buff orp. I put 4 eggs under her last Sunday. She's been sitting on them so far. Today I was gone all day & when I went down to the coop, she was off her nest box & sitting in another one...nothing under her, but all fluffed up and broody looking. I took her 4 eggs out of the nest & put them back under her, she accepted them but they were cold. How long can a broody be off her eggs and them still be OK?
feldo

 

[Picco]

I'm not sure if there's an exact time limit but they might still be ok. Eggs can cool down for a while and still be viable, the embryos can go dormant for a while and resume growth once they are back under warmth. I would think a few hours would be OK as long as the temperature wasn't too extreme. I hope they make it!

 

[akcskye]

I had been told, but I don't know if this is accurate, that the hens need to lay on them almost consistently, give 30 mins to an hour per day to take care of their needs, such as eating and drinking and walking.

Whether that is true, again, I don't know.

However, that is the pattern my 3 broodies took...1/2 hour to take care of themselves, then back on the nest.