Broody Hen Thread!

[Jharper]

How long do I have to sneak fertile eggs under my broody hen? She has been broody for about 3 weeks. I'm afraid if I get eggs to sneak under her she will stop being broody before they hatch. I mean, she can't possibly know the difference between fertile and non fertile eggs so what if she is no longer broody a week into the process?

Do you have an incubator? I've heard of broodies being desperate and stay broody until they die or have chicks.

 

[all4him13309]

Has anybody ever experienced a broody hen eating her clutch of eggs? I have a broody who has been sitting on a clutch of eight eggs. I noticed about six days ago that there was two misssing from the clutch, shells and all. Today another has disappeared. She is down to five eggs now. They are due to hatch anyday. I wonder if she was eating them as the other chickens can't get to her.

 

[jammyjammy2112]

Has anybody ever experienced a broody hen eating her clutch of eggs? I have a broody who has been sitting on a clutch of eight eggs. I noticed about six days ago that there was two misssing from the clutch, shells and all. Today another has disappeared. She is down to five eggs now. They are due to hatch anyday. I wonder if she was eating them as the other chickens can't get to her.

i had seven eggs under my broody silkie on day 14 she eat it it was infertile all the others were fertile so i tougth she eat it becouse it was infertile

 

[adoreabulls]

Hi everyone! I'm new to chickens and need some help. My silkie went broody about a month ago. I don't want chicks so I continued to collect the other hen's eggs. Finally she has come out of the coop and is part of the group again. How long will it take before she starts to lay eggs? She was laying regularly until about a month ago. She has been acting "normal" for almost a week now....

 

[jammyjammy2112]

about another week or 2 she most build up her calcuim and then she will be back

 

[jendodd79]

Is it normal for Broodys to get up off the nest during the day to move around? Ours keeps doing that and the other hens come in and lay!

 

[Jharper]

Is it normal for Broodys to get up off the nest during the day to move around?  Ours keeps doing that and the other hens come in and lay!

Yeah that's what they are supposed to do. Hahaha

 

[animalboy0895]

I have a broody hen who's eggs are obviesly rotten she has been setting for about 18 days. If i take the eggs away can i put new eggs under her? Will she keep sitting for that long?

 

[jammyjammy2112]

it depends on what hen you have and her personality what breed is she if you know and some hens would stay sitting till they die some wont stay for 2 days it depends.

 

[animalboy0895]

it depends on what hen you have and her personality what breed is she if you know and some hens would stay sitting till they die some wont stay for 2 days it depends.

i put new eggs next to her after removing the Rotten ones and she pulled them under her. She is a jersey giant hen.