Broody pullet leaving their nest for too long

[JukeboxJenny]

One of my pullets recently became broody, probably a week or so of pulling out feathers and feathering the nesting box and maybe 2-3 days of sitting for most of the day and snarking at anyone who gets too close. However she will leave the nest for an hour or more each day. While it’s hot as heck here (over a hundred) I still don’t think that will make for viable embryos.

Any idea why? There’re no mites that I can see, or any reason she seems uncomfortable in there, she just takes a really long break to dust bathe and eat and, maybe cool down under our house. I’ve tried to keep the area as cool as possible for her but maybe that’s the problem?

I’m not in need of chicks right now, I agreed to let her try a couple because my son is persuasive LOL, so I’m wondering if I should pull the eggs out that are in there since they won’t work out if she doesn’t stay on them. Or try to break her of the broodiness and try again when she gets a bit older or Just let her do her thing or what?

I appreciate any advice! This is new territory for me!

 

[Weeg]

Hmm, can you cancel th eggs and post pictures her when she get off the nest, if there is nay chance of survival I would leave them, because we had a friend that didn't think her broody duck would hatch for the same reason but right on the hatch date she hatched 8 ducklings so maybe she knows what she's doing. Otherwise if you are really hoping for chicks then you could take some of her eggs and incubate them, and be garenteed a hatch. Other wise thats the best I can do for you, Keep me posted, Avery

 

[Lyndzie]

I think someone else posted about this recently, and was advised to just let them be. The broody knows what she is doing. Especially with these crazy temps, give her a chance and see what happens.

 

[JukeboxJenny]

Hmm, can you cancel th eggs and post pictures her when she get off the nest, if there is nay chance of survival I would leave them, because we had a friend that didn't think her broody duck would hatch for the same reason but right on the hatch date she hatched 8 ducklings so maybe she knows what she's doing. Otherwise if you are really hoping for chicks then you could take some of her eggs and incubate them, and be garenteed a hatch. Other wise thats the best I can do for you, Keep me posted, Avery

Hi! Thank you for the reply! I don’t think I would see anything in the eggs yet, she’s only been on them a couple of days. I can if it would be helpful but I think that might be too early…? I am not currently itching for baby chicks LOL so maybe I will just let her do her thing with these couple and see what happens!

 

[JukeboxJenny]

I think someone else posted about this recently, and was advised to just let them be. The broody knows what she is doing. Especially with these crazy temps, give her a chance and see what happens.

Sounds like a good option to me! If I was really wanting chicks at the time I may interfere a little more, but since I don’t really care either way I think your advice is good advice. Thanks!