Doesn't she remember which nest is hers??!!

[carrlr]

I have my first broody ever, a BO. I do have a roo. I haven't been able to come up with separate accomodations for her and her eggs (which are a mixture of my flocks). Even though I have 4 nests for my layers, they all use one. She went broody and started on a days worth of eggs, around 10, on May 1st. We realized it when we went to collect them and she wouldn't move. For several days she was fine and on them whenever we would check, the other girls even started to lay in the other boxes. A couple times now, when she gets up to either relieve herself or eat/drink, another hen will jump in the box (last count there were 14 eggs) to lay. When she is ready to return she will go into any box with an egg. We try to keep on top of the eggs so only has "her" eggs. We have physically removed her twice, obviously against her will, and pointed her back to her nest. So, why doesn't she remember which box and how long can she be off the eggs and they'll still be ok?

 

[carrlr]

Also, does anyone candle their broody eggs?

 

[giggleboxfarm]

My broody recently did this, but only twice. And she was probably off for more than an hour before I found her and moved her back, but this was once she was down to 4-5 eggs. None of the other chickens seemed to want to sit on them for her, but when she came back, there were 2 nests with similar amounts of eggs. She got confused. They ALL hatched fine.

 

[Mandy1296]

I only had 1 broody hen who hasn't done that. The other ladies get confused, although I think it may be because it's their first time being broody. For now, my ladies brood in the same boxes (only boxes) as they lay until the little ones hatch. I put little food and water ramikins in with them after they've been sitting a about 3 days. If I were a chicken I'd like the landmarks when I was trying to find my way back

I just move the lost lady back to her box, they get a little ruffled at me but they get over it. I do candle my broody eggs, but only if I can catch them while momma's off the nest. Good thing, it keeps me from looking too often. They say a watched pot never boils....

When I hear cheeping, I put a rock in the water dish so they can't drown and I put a piece of cardboard to build up the front so the little ones can't fall out. Then after a couple days, I move momma and babies to a bigger pen for a few days. When the babies are about a week old, I let them and momma out when I'm home and just keep an eye out.

What I really watch out for is what I call nest hijacking. Poor hen wants to be a mama, so she finds a nest of eggs (only takes a day to get about 14 eggs in our coop) sits on them for 17 days, then some little perky chicken comes over and wants to hatch that set. Friend of mine makes fun of me, but I tell her "I don't think so!! Do your own time lady!" and I switch them back.

Have fun with it!

 

[carrlr]

Thanks for the information.