Broody Orpington

[3SiameseCats]

Hello! Haven’t been around here in awhile. I have a broody hen, and I’m taking this as a sign to get more chickens. In other words, I would like her to have chicks.

She has been on these eggs since sometime after Thursday. At least the past 14 hours, until I came out to her spot being taken to another hen. It appears I didn’t secure her area enough. She seems rather bothered by all this, as she is acting rather distressed.

My question is how long can a chicken be away from her eggs? I’m assuming this hen who took her spot is keeping the eggs warm enough for now, but I don’t know.

One things for sure though, the hens are bothered their spot is taken

 

[sourland]

I would remove the intruder from the nest and allow the original hen back to set. I would then secure the nest site so that she could not be interfered with by the rest of the flock. Good luck for a successful incubation/hatch.