Broody hen sit on machine incubating eggs ?

[Cheetah Chicks]

Hi All

Its an urgent situation. Since several weeks one of my.hen was getting puffy like puffer fish if any rooster comes near or behaving touch me not types.

I realise that this is a precursor behaviour of being broody.

Now she is broody since yesterday,and i am already incubating the eggs of a previous hen who is no longer with us. Those eggs are due to hatch in two days.

So, shall i remove the broody hen and out her in cold water to get out of her mood or make her sit in the eggs that are due hatching in two days.??

 

[SueT]

The thing is she’s only been broody ‘since yesterday’ she likely won’t be in the right stage when they hatch. But you never know.
Maybe give her one egg and see what happens. You could always take the chick back if she isn’t mothering it, or give her more if she is. To give already hatched chicks to a broody, wait until almost dark.

 

[Shabby Chic-Hens]

I would not risk the eggs, as she might turn on them as soon as they hatch. I also would not put her in cold water. She could get chilled easily in this weather. Put her in a cage, where she can't get to the nesting box, that has no privacy or bedding.

 

[igorsMistress]

I had a broody that I gave chicks to and she rejected them. I believe she wasn’t broody long enough.l, it has only been a couple weeks. I too would be concerned she’d injur the chicks.

 

[The Moonshiner]

I'd leave those eggs in the incubator and give her some others to hatch.
That might just be me though.
Ya, no cold water treatment. That just sounds mean.