Broody Question

[4sillychickens]

I have a hen that's been broody for a week now. There's no rooster with her, so no fertile eggs. But what I was wondering is, is it too late to put some fertile eggs under her? Or will she stop sitting on them the last week because she's already been sitting for a week on infertile eggs. I hope you all understood that

Any opinions?

 

[galanie]

It's pure hormones that make them broody. They don't need a rooster or even any eggs under them to do it. She should be fine with you adding eggs now. I had one that was broody for 3 weeks before I gave her some eggs to hatch and she was thrilled to see them, and sat the entire extra 3 weeks to hatch them.

 

[blefky]

Broodiness can sometimes last a long while. My little BO hen has been broody for most of the summer. I'd already hatched out all the chicks I wanted earlier in the spring so I really didn't want to put any eggs under her. Haven't been able to coax her off that nest - she's up to eat, drink, and relieve herself and then right back on. She's gotten very thin over the past couple of months. I was afraid she was going to brood herself to death, so yesterday a friend grabbed a few fertile eggs out from underneath one of her broodies and gave them to me. Chicklet is happy as a clam - finally.

 

[toripeeps]

I have a PlymouthRock that has been broody for several weeks. I keep taking her off nest when I find her there. Because I don't want any chicks I take eggs every day. But she still sits on empty nest. Will this stop on its own or do I need to worry about her?
She will stay out of Coop all day with other girls if I keep door closed. They are free range, but she has stopped laying. Any advise?

 

[Happy Chooks]

My last broody was on the nest a week before I gave her eggs - she hatched them just fine. She did lose a lot of weight though. Chickens can't tell time, so they don't know how long they've been there.

 

[4sillychickens]

Thanks for all the comments! I'm getting some fertile eggs today