Broody Hen Thread!

Question I just wormed my hens and have to throw away eggs for 14 days could I just leave them in the nest to see if it would help in getting one of my hens to go broody?
I don't think there would be any problem using them as 'dummy eggs' to try to tempt a hen into broodiness.... but I wouldn't use them as eggs intended to hatch. Just leave them for a day or two, then swap them out.
Do some research on birth defects in medicated/wormed eggs before deciding to try to hatch those ones out. I could be wrong, but I thought some meds caused troubles/birth defects with chicks. Check the medication warnings and see what they advise.. not all meds have the same side effects, but I wouldn't want to chance having my broody sit for 21 days and then have her eggs be bad or chicks die because I used bad eggs to start with.

If one of your hens decides she does want to go broody when you use them as 'dummy eggs', swap them out every couple of days until the 2 or 3 wk wait period is over (depending on medication warnings about length of time not to use the eggs). Once the wait period is over then just give her a new clutch of good eggs and let her go.
A hen can sit for longer than 3 wks as long as you make sure she has good quality food available and she is healthy to begin with.
 
my cute little D'uccles taking a quick peek at the world on their first day of hatching

700
 
I need some advice asap. One of my young hens is brooding...seems shes been on the eggs way to long, but it is very cold here in NH . the eggs are alive, however weird air sacks and I can't tell if they have done an internal pip. My concern is my hen...I moved her and her eggs inside but this isn't helping...she is very skinny! She eats a little a day ..if I hand feed her..she refuses water and she hasn't pooped...I picked her up today after feeling her back bone near her butt and she is very light in weight. Her vent is pulsing too..what does that mean? Should I break her broodiness or give her more time in the house? I don't want to loose her
 
Thanks for the info.I will do just that swap them out till the wait is over and hope I have a broody soon

I don't think there would be any problem using them as 'dummy eggs' to try to tempt a hen into broodiness.... but I wouldn't use them as eggs intended to hatch.  Just leave them for a day or two, then swap them out.
Do some research on birth defects in medicated/wormed eggs before deciding to try to hatch those ones out.  I could be wrong, but I thought some meds caused troubles/birth defects with chicks.  Check the medication warnings and see what they advise.. not all meds have the same side effects, but I wouldn't want to chance having my broody sit for 21 days and then have her eggs be bad or chicks die because I used bad eggs to start with.

If one of your hens decides she does want to go broody when you use them as 'dummy eggs', swap them out every couple of days until the 2 or 3 wk wait period is over (depending on medication warnings about length of time not to use the eggs).  Once the wait period is over then just give her a new clutch of good eggs and let her go.
A hen can sit for longer than 3 wks as long as you make sure she has good quality food available and she is healthy to begin with.
 

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