Broody hens and fertile eggs

[SHRanchHen]

Does anyone know how long I have to stick fertile eggs under two hens that just went broody? They've been broody for two days now and I have no roosters but I'd like to stick some fertile eggs under them. They are keeping golf balls warm right now.

 

[Poultry parent]

Pretty much as long as you want, they're not going to stop being broody unless the eggs hatch, or they're really disturbed

 

[SHRanchHen]

That's what I was hoping for! THANK YOU!!!

 

[Poultry parent]

Of course! Same thing happened with my hen, I got her some fertilized eggs about 2 weeks after she went broody, and she was fine

 

[SHRanchHen]

I'm so excited now! I feel a little bad because they are Ameracuana eggs going under a couple Banty hens, but those banties sure make good mommas! My Ameracuana never go broody.....

 

[Poultry parent]

My hen didnt care that the eggs under her weren't hers

 

[junebuggena]

I usually wait till a hen has been sitting consistently for at least 3 days before giving her eggs. If you wait more than a week or two, she might stop brooding before the eggs are ready to hatch. And the longer she stays broody, the weaker and more susceptible she will be to illness.

 

[SHRanchHen]

Any idea how to move them to a different location and not disrupt the broodiness? They are nesting in apparently "the two best nesting boxes" and are causing my other girls grief!

 

[Poultry parent]

Move them at night

 

[junebuggena]

After 3 days of consistent brooding is when I move them into the brooding crate. It will upset them a bit, but if they are fully broody, they should settle down and sit.