Broody hen???

[crchicks]

I think my Cochin is going broody but I'm not sure. I've never had a broody hen. She's been sitting in the nesting box for 2 days so far. I've seen her leave once but she was sitting in there instead of roosting last night. Any advice? I just got rid of my rooster last week so the eggs she's sitting on might be fertilized.

 

[peopleRanimals2]

Looks like she's broody. You can do some research, and decide if you want to let her try to hatch them. Do you know how long the eggs that she's sitting on have been there? They might not be fertilized if they are newer.

 

[crchicks]

They are from yesterday and probably today but I've read that the hens can stay fertilized for up to 3 weeks

 

[Kiki]

They are from yesterday and probably today but I've read that the hens can stay fertilized for up to 3 weeks

yes sometimes 2 to 4 weeks is what I have read.

 

[Kiki]

How man eggs is she sitting on?
Is it possible to crack one to check fertility?

 

[peopleRanimals2]

Or you could wait a couple days and candle them. Whichever you prefer.

 

[crchicks]

Yesterday there was 3 eggs but I know at least one of the other hens basically sat on top of her earlier in the nesting box to lay

 

[peopleRanimals2]

You should probably provide her with some sort of broody coop- a coop or someplace away from the rest of your flock where she can peacefully and safely raise her chicks.

 

[crchicks]

Do I need to turn the eggs that she's sitting on? I know you're supposed to if you're incubating but I really don't know much about letting my hen hatch them.

 

[jak2002003]

Do I need to turn the eggs that she's sitting on? I know you're supposed to if you're incubating but I really don't know much about letting my hen hatch them.

No. What do you think happens in the wild?

The hen will do all the egg turning, heating, cooling, brooding, helping chicks hatch, etc. You can just sit back and relax and let her do all the work.

She will know when to take the hatched chicks off the nest too. Don't worry about it.