broody not leaving nest

[Rick589]

My broody BO hasn’t left the nest in nearly two weeks. Food and water have been put within her reach but does’t appear to be touched. She has only been seen off the eggs once about three day after setting but not since and we are day 16. Should we be concerned?

 

[BlindLemonChicken]

I stopped putting food and water in with my broodies for this reason. They really need a reason to get up and stretch their legs and have a dust bath

 

[BlindLemonChicken]

You can put her off the nest manually once a day. If she goes straight back don’t worry about it but most likely she will welcome the chance to move around

 

[wrathsfarm]

I stopped putting food and water in with my broodies for this reason. They really need a reason to get up and stretch their legs and have a dust bath

You can put her off the nest manually once a day. If she goes straight back don’t worry about it but most likely she will welcome the chance to move around

Agree with both posts.

Grab her off the eggs. I tend to tuck my hand, palm up under her belly and lift up taking care to watch her feet and the eggs. Set her down on floor, she'll probably lay down and flatten out like she's still on the eggs. She's still in a trance. She'll pop out of it and wreak havoc out the door and lay a smelly present for you. This is the time she'll head for a dust bath, ravage food and drink lots of water.
Use this time to check her nest. She's probably made a mess. If so gently lift out eggs and set aside. Refresh with new bedding and replace the eggs. I would suggest doing this before she gets ready to lock down on the eggs. After 18 days I don't pull a broody from the eggs, if she gets off of them on her own that's okay, but I don't force them to.

Best of luck with your hatch.

 

[McChooky]

I stopped putting food and water in with my broodies for this reason. They really need a reason to get up and stretch their legs and have a dust bath

Mines on one end of a divided and covered predator proof run so the other hens can't mess with her. I can tell shes moved recently but I only go in there once a day to check on her. She's got food and water.

 

[BlindLemonChicken]

I’ve had some hens that are great about getting off the nest but I’ve also had one that refused and pooped the nest. It didn’t get on her eggs but that’s not a performance I want to see repeated.

 

[Rick589]

I stopped putting food and water in with my broodies for this reason. They really need a reason to get up and stretch their legs and have a dust bath

Good point. I did it after she hadn’t left the nest for about a week, maybe not a good idea on my part.

 

[Rick589]

Agree with both posts.

Grab her off the eggs. I tend to tuck my hand, palm up under her belly and lift up taking care to watch her feet and the eggs. Set her down on floor, she'll probably lay down and flatten out like she's still on the eggs. She's still in a trance. She'll pop out of it and wreak havoc out the door and lay a smelly present for you. This is the time she'll head for a dust bath, ravage food and drink lots of water.
Use this time to check her nest. She's probably made a mess. If so gently lift out eggs and set aside. Refresh with new bedding and replace the eggs. I would suggest doing this before she gets ready to lock down on the eggs. After 18 days I don't pull a broody from the eggs, if she gets off of them on her own that's okay, but I don't force them to.

Best of luck with your hatch.

Thank You.

 

[McChooky]

Good point. I did it after she hadn’t left the nest for about a week, maybe not a good idea on my part.

I plan on candling the eggs on day 10 and adding bedding unless its a mess.I don't want to clean the whole thing unless I have to.This is the first time I've let her sit and I want it to be a good experience. I don't want any rotten eggs in there

 

[McChooky]

My leghorns pick the feathered crest on my cream legbar roosters head off on the roost at night and will do the same to any of his chicks if they get the chance.I'll have to keep these separated from them.