Broody how long?

[2wheelsdaily]

I have 2 chickens that have been broody for 3 or 4 weeks, one Silkie and one Maran, and it just dawned on me I should have put some fertilized eggs under them (I don't have a rooster). Am I too late now to buy some eggs and put under them?

 

[Happy Chooks]

You're not too late, they will continue to sit. BUT how is their weight? And the heat? You can always slip day old chicks under them.

 

[vnploveschickens]

No, but if you do, you might want to be prepared in case your broodies get decide to stop. Do you have an incubator?

You could also just put regular unfertilized eggs or even wooden eggs.

 

[reallynewatthis]

Our Maran just broke her broody cycle after about 3 weeks. It didn't take much encouragement, she just up and spent the day out of the coop yesterday. Finally!! Rather than give her an egg to sit on, we just kept taking eggs away from her, and she eventually gave up. Or, it was three weeks and time to be done.

 

[2wheelsdaily]

Thanks for the replies, no I don't have an incubator, maybe I should have one as a backup

 

[Country Heart]

Since they have already been sitting for so long, it might be best to give them day old (magic) chicks and let them move on to the next stage of motherhood.