Broody returned to wrong nest!

[Deansy85]

So... It's currently day 8 of operation egg hatching and my broody who is a hybrid Columbine has, which I can only assume accidentally returns to the wrong nest after her rest break and left her fertile clutch unheated for how long is anybody's guess. This is the first time she has done this since she started sitting. Its also worth noting that due to space restrictions I have allowed her to brood on the main coop. Had a few squabbles for nest in first few days but she has defended her position and done remarkably well until today. I managed to get her back on the eggs and she was happy to sit but is it too late? The eggs were cold to touch.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance!

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

It happens. Most likely outcome is a slight delay in development - so later hatching. My last go round with a broody in the flock she was found in the wrong nest a few different times - we just moved her back where she belonged. We had a 5/5 hatch rate on that batch and the eggs didn't even hatch late.

 

[chickengeorgeto]

This is why you need individual nests that can be picked up and moved during the dead of night into a small private paddock where there is no danger of a strange or different hen laying in your setting hen's nest while the setting hen is off eating, drinking and doing other chicken things. Because when the brooding hen returns to her nest and there is another hen on it, your brooding hen is unable to determine where her nest is and she might end up sitting anywhere.

 

[Deansy85]

This is why you need individual nests that can be picked up and moved during the dead of night into a small private paddock where there is no danger of a strange or different hen laying in your setting hen's nest while the setting hen is off eating, drinking and doing other chicken things. Because when the brooding hen returns to her nest and there is another hen on it, your brooding hen is unable to determine where her nest is and she might end up sitting anywhere.

Yeah I knew that this was a potential problem before I purchased the fertile eggs from my local breeder but the fact is I made my decision based on the set up I have available to me and this is the problem I require advise on! Its all a learning curve and something I can maybe look to do differently next time! Thanks for input though!

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

It's really not that big of a deal - I have always hatched out in the flock when I've had broodies do the work.

 

[chickengeorgeto]

Yeah I knew that this was a potential problem before I purchased the fertile eggs from my local breeder but the fact is I made my decision based on the set up I have available to me and this is the problem I require advise on! Its all a learning curve and something I can maybe look to do differently next time! Thanks for input though!

No problemo. I also had the same problems and learning curve.

 

[chickengeorgeto]

When breeding my own birds i usually only single mated so all i needed to do was to move the cock to another 4X6 foot pen and then breed him to a different hen or else put him in a stall. But there was little danger to the hen if the rooster stayed in the pen for a week or two. In fact, other hens are a bigger threat to chicks than roosters are.

 

[robgray]

My first broody was in with the gang and not only would she switch boxes, the other hens would literally lay eggs on top of her. When they began hatching the other girls were out of sorts. The first chick I found dead in the nest box....so I moved her to a completely different area and different box, an empty planter! And she happily raised her brood. You have a much higher success rate when they are alone in my opinion. Some coops are set up well though and can manage a broody. Mine also left the nest for hours a couple of times. Good luck with your hatch!