Broody question

[chuckachucka]

How many times a day is it 'normal' for a hen to be off the eggs when brooding? I ask because I have had hens go broody and hatch chicks several times before and every time they would get up once a day for up to half an hour. Very occasionally they would get off the nest twice in one day, very occasionally they would not get up at all for two days.

However my serama, who is currently on a nest of eggs in a crate inside my house, keeps getting up about FOUR times a day. Each time is probably ten to fifteen minutes. It is winter here and even though she is inside, my house is fairly cool most of the time. The serama is a first Tim broody and I'm worried she isn't sitting properly and the eggs won't hatch.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Hi.

Once or twice per day is also what I normally SEE. If they were doing it more often, then I'm not out there to see it.

If your gal is young, it may be a learning process for her. But, I would leave it to her... Either they hatch or they don't. It's the only way you can know if she will be successful or not.

I personally don't like my girls sitting that long... and won't allow them to sit at all during their first year since their minds AND bodies are still maturing and will be better equipped after that.

I also like to use the incubator and hatch out chicks myself then tuck them under a mom who has been sitting for a week or so if possible. You may consider doing that. But I would probably let nature take it's course as it's a learning process for me as much as a first time broody.

The eggs MAY be fine! 10-15 minutes isn't that long and our "nests" provide SOME insulation.