Broody hens

[mstricer]

How does a hen know when enough is enough? I have two broodies and I really am starting to worry. I wasnt sure if they were truely broody at first, because they would go from one nest to another for a while, so I keep taking the eggs and pitching them. Now for over two weeks they have been setting on the same two nest. Ones a Black Giant Jersey and the other is an Orp. Last night the Orp stole the the Jerseys nest and the Jeresy went to the Orps nest. Today they were back on their own nests. So how long till they give up? Do they know whether there are chicks or not? I'm so confused.

 

[sunnychooks]

I don't normally allow them to continue being broody because the longer they are broody, the longer it takes for them to start laying again. You can break the broodiness by putting them somewhere where there is no access to a nest. Some people use wire cages that hang so that the correct temperature/humidity cannot be reached under the hen, but I always had luck just putting them in a separate enclosure with a shelter, food, water and no place to nest.

 

[purr]

why not just let them lay?

 

[Birchwood]

I wish I had a hen go broody. I have 32 hens and not one is interested in going broody. Any suggestions?

 

[mstricer]

I'm not trying to break their broodiness, I'm going to let them raise some chicks. I have plenty of eggs going on here more then I can sell. I just dont know, how they know when to give up.

 

[mstricer]

Yeah this just started the Orp is just over a year and the Jersey is almost a 11 months

 

[sunnychooks]

I didn't understand your post. I thought you didn't want them to be broody because you were pitching eggs. If they have only been setting for 2 weeks they need more time. Eggs hatch in 21 days. Am I still misunderstanding your post?

 

[purr]

they will start sitting on them when they feel they have enough. sometimes its 2 eggs sometimes its 10

 

[PunkinPeep]

If you're asking how they know when to stop sitting....they stop sitting when chicks hatch. Then they raise their chicks.