Broody hen question

[biteme2134]

My buff is broody and due to hatch I'm guessing around tuesday this week. Apparently our Ameraucana's have been laying eggs on top of her while she's been sitting... this has resulted in around 20 eggs under her! I know a typical incubator hatch has one hatch today one tomorrow, one the next day...

how long will she continue to sit on the nest after the first chick hatches?

 

[Judy]

Usually around 24 hours. Then any unhatched eggs will be abandoned and she will take hr chicks out to eat, etc.

 

[biteme2134]

Usually around 24 hours. Then any unhatched eggs will be abandoned and she will take hr chicks out to eat, etc.

I think we put some under for a day or two after she first started sitting so i hope those all do fine too- also our nesting box has a raised lip on the front and I'm worried the chicks wont be able get out of there without help

 

[Judy]

A lip won't stop them for long, like once they get their legs under them, probably in a few hours. Even day olds will be able to hop and climb a little, and can jump down from quite high spots relatively safely -- as from the hayloft to the barn floor of an old fashioned barn. Of course, they won't be able to get back up, but mama will join them and make a nrw nest or just cover them where they gather.