Broody hen

[Ineke9909]

I have two hens that evidently are broody. My first experience with this. They both like the same nest box and stuff themselves together in it. Is this normal? We don’t have a rooster, so no fertile eggs. How long before they get over this? And lastly, how long before the eggs go bad with them sitting on them? I collect 2-3 x a day.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Is this normal?

With broody hens about any behavior can be considered normal. Two hens sharing a nest is fairly common. So is other hens laying in that nest.

We don’t have a rooster, so no fertile eggs. How long before they get over this?

A month and a half is pretty normal. Some can go well over two months. I find it best to break them from being broody. Lock them in an elevated cage with a wire bottom so air can cool their bottom. Give them food and water but nothing that looks like a nest. I keep mine locked in there for 72 hours, that's usually enough to break them. But if they go back to the nest run them through it again.

Many people use a wire dog cage, not the plastic dog crate.

And lastly, how long before the eggs go bad with them sitting on them? I collect 2-3 x a day.

I define "going bad" by bacteria getting inside them and causing rotten eggs. As long as the eggs stay clean a broody hen can sit on them long enough to hatch them without bacteria getting inside. Certain ducks or some other fowl can incubate for 5 weeks so it's not like you are in crisis mode.

I collect the eggs once a day after the other hens have all laid and the eggs are fine, even if they are fertile. If you collect once a day you are doing great.

 

[Ineke9909]

Thank you very much for the information

 

[Lady of McCamley]

As long as you are collecting daily, your eggs should be fine. I too like to collect twice a day if I know a broody is sitting on it. Eggs have to be heated for 24 hours before they begin to grow the embryo.

Yes, 2 broodies often try to hog a broody box together. If you were actually hatching chicks, I generally encourage to separate the hens as *most* hens cause each other problems when they try to brood together.

As to how long they have this behavior, that totally depends on their genetics and hormones. Many commercial breeds only flirt with brooding and are quickly over. Some of the more heritage type birds take brooding to heart. Silkies are diehards and will sit prolonged periods of time.

How easy to break them depends again on the hen. Some only need to be removed from the nesting box a couple of times a day and given treats. Others have to be placed in a "broody buster" cage with food, water, and air flow to break them.

I like to use my broody hens, so I don't break a brood because I believe it gives them bad brooding habits. Most of my hens, if I don't use them, break within 4 weeks.

I'd try by blocking them out of the nest and removing them from the coop a few days before going to something like a broody buster cage (edited) since you never plan to use them.

LofMc