Emergency! Can a broody set for 2 months straight?

[Silkie-Feet]

Here goes the story, I had a hen to sit on some eggs in the corner of the coop without a top on the nest. The roof leaked one day before I got home and she and the eggs got soaked, but she remained on the nest. I moved her and placed a lamp on her to dry her and I thought everything would be okay,until today when the eggs were all roten today so i threw them out. She is now on a different nest with eggs and determined to hatch them. can she manage to hatch these eggs and be broody for 2 months? I am confused and in need of help.

 

[gryeyes]

My suggestion is to buy a few day old chicks for her, instead. Bring the chicks, pull out the eggs, and put the chicks down right next to her. Or wait until night time when she is sleeping, and do it then. But then you'll have to wait until morning to see how successful it was.... so try it during the day, first.

Just my suggestion. She wants to be a mommy really bad and you can help her out by giving her the chicks now.

 

[Silkie-Feet]

she is a silkie cross, and very loving. in previous years i have tried to give her some but i always end up with 4-5 dead chicks. any tips on how to intoduce them so this dosen't happen? will the other nest of eggs hatch, will she decide to get off this nest now because she has already been on a nest for 20 days?

 

[Sunny Side Up]

It depends on the hen. It sounds like this one was already broody for 21 days on eggs that had gotten wet mid-way through the set and never developed, is that right? And she's still determined to be broody so you want to re-set her with fresh eggs and have her set for another 21 days? If the hen has been feeding herself diligently every day and isn't affected by mites or lice, if she still looks bright & healthy, a fierce look to her eyes and a nice red comb, then she may do all right setting for another session. It won't be 2 months, just 6 weeks, 42 days, a little less than a month & a half.

But if she seems to have lost condition, is limp & pale, doesn't get alarmed when you reach into her nest, has parasites, or isn't feeding herself well, then she either needs to be broken or given new chicks to adopt. Let us know what you decide & how she does!

 

[Silkie-Feet]

yes, that is what happend. actually now she looks fatter then when she started sitting.

 

[Silkie-Feet]

when i took her off the nest she was screaming and ran to a different nest. i'll let her try to hatch those. she raises about 3 clutches a year. here is a pic of her:

 

[theprimouomo]

mine has the same condition it have been over 21 days still noo chicks should i wait more or should i buy her chicks!!

 

[Jferlisi]

It depends on the hen. Some will wait for ever some wont. Its not good on there body to brood for months at a time. Mine was broodie for almost 3 months cause i couldn't get her out of it. I tried eggs multiple time and nothing so i finally got day old chicks. Its all up to you.