Broody on day 18..... Need advice pls.......

[bloom chicks]

She will be on day 18 tomorrow and was wondering if I should continue to take her off the nest to poop. She is in a dog crate in the coop and I have been taking her off the nest once a day so she can do her business. So I was wondering if I should take her off tomorrow because of lockdown. Thanks for your input.

 

[Judy]

I would certainly give her the choice. They can handle the lockdown aspect of hatching on their own.

 

[HetaChick]

My hen absolutely refused to get off at all. I still dragged her off, and all 11 chicks hatched fine. ^^

 

[bloom chicks]

Thank you very much. Do I continue to take her off until they hatch? She won't come off the nest by her self.

 

[bloom chicks]

This is my 2nd broody my 1st one was easy. My second one won't get off the nest.

 

[HetaChick]

Well I ended up doing that since she absolutely refused to get off at all. My eggs hatched two days early too so surprise surprise, I take her off the 19th day an when i bring her back i see..pips! It didn't seem to hurt them at all. Hens do naturally get off eggs, or at least they should. My hen and yours apparently are quite dedicated.

The only thing that happened for me was once 7/11 chicks hatched my hen was so excited she kept lifting to see them. I don't think this should be an issue but I stuck the last few in the incubator just in case so they didn't get too chilled. This shouldn't be an issue though haha.