Does Broody Know Best?

[marymac]

I noticed yesterday my silky who is sitting on 3 eggs got off for a while and was only partly covering the eggs. I was thinking it is probably due to the heat. She was still on them but not tightly and I could see the eggs a little. Later she had them all back under her. My other silky stayed right on hers as far as I know. Is this normal behavior in hot weather? I don't think she actually got totally off them to where they got too cool, i just think she knew they were warm enough. What do you think?

 

[PeeperKeeper]

Don't know how to answer this one! She is probably doing better then some of mine that get off the nest to find food and forget to go back for hours! Some have been doing this for 4-5 weeks with no results.
So give your little broodie the benefit a of a doubt and see what she can produce.
Good Luck!

 

[jjdward]

I don't know how hot it is in OH, but in GA it has been almost 100 for about a week. I have had broodys that do this. I think as long as she isn't off them for over 20 mins everything will be ok.

 

[walkswithdog]

Some broodies will shift or move eggs or leave them in high heat. Heck even in normal or cool weather there's no harm in a broody being off the nest for awhile. Cooling is far far less harmful than over heating.

Your silkies may have differing degrees of down, where one is hotter in hot weather than the other. No two birds are identical.

And while broodies are just chickens and they have tiny little brains, in general they're going to figure out how to do it. First timers make mistakes, nobody is perfect the first time they try something. Even experienced broodies have brain farts and bad weeks.

When you go with nature - you roll with the punches.

 

[Judy]

Agree with the others, and suspect she "knows" exactly what she is doing. Instincts are usually pretty dependable.

 

[marymac]

Quote:
This is only my 2nd time hatching any eggs, and this particular silky done a great job back in March and I am leaving it all up to her. I just wanted some reassurance from someone else who has had exp in hatching chicks, so I do feel better now. Thanks.

 

[dancingbear]

I'm in KY, and our weather's been similar. It's been so hot, I really wouldn't worry about it. She could probably get off the nest half the day and they'd be fine.

I have 7 broodies right now. Yes, 7. And 3 hens with babies running around. And 2 dozen eggs in a 'bator, set to sync with the hens' hatches so I can foist the babies off on them to raise.