****Help???how long can an egg peep? first broody on eggs

[chickenlisa]

We have 3 adult hens and 1 Roo together in our pen outside. 5 or 6 days ago, we noticed the mixed breed hen wouldn't get off the egglaying spot they've made in the corner...on the floor. She is still there-we've only seen her off once and then the other hens took turns guarding that spot til she came back. She is extremely grouchy and will not tolerate anyone touching her, or trying to look under her. I just lifted her up an inch or two with the end of a rake and there are at least 5 green eggs under her. (She lays brown eggs and the other 2 hens are EEs and lay green eggs.) What do we do? I have read about moving the broody hen and her eggs. I don't think we can-we went out after dark last night and tried to check under her and she was still just as bothered and let us know it by pecking us and screaming at us. So can we leave her there? Its a tough spot to try to haul her out of-its in the corner under the top nesting box and beside the last one on the bottom.(We have 2 rows of boxes-1 on top of the other... but they end about 6-8 inches from the wall on the bottom. She's in there. They love it there as its dark and private, but now its tough to think about getting her out of there if we have to.
Any ideas? We've never done this before. We've only ordered all of our baby chicks from MM or adopted ones who needed a home.
Lisa

Update- day 19-excited people here and no time to just sit out there and watch her...will have to go out a few times to just check on her each day... she scarfed down a banana peice and the big pear section I left for her earlier today... poor thing must be hot-its in the 90s today...at least she's tucked away in a dark interior corner of her coop...
New Update! Day 21--1st chick already hatched! I discovered it when I checked on her awhile ago...I lifted her front end up a bit to see the eggs and there was a dark wet chick uder her. I promptly set her back down and left her alone. I put up a cardboard wall around the bottom of the fencing, so that when the chick(s) start walking around they won't get out.I need to go get starter feed later-I know they are fine for a few days without it tho.

 

[justusnak]

Well...she is definately broody!

Is there a way you can fence off the area she is in...and provide her with her own food and water? This will keep the other girls from layin in the nest, and causeing late hatches...which she will probably leave after a few of the original ones hatch. Have fun with your new broody...and in 21 days or so, new babies!

 

[chickenlisa]

ok-What should she be eating now? I have her egg layer crumbles and a waterer for her and have it separated-sort of-I have to make it better later. Is that food ok for these 21 days and then what should I have out then? Baby starter with meds? Will it hurt her if I put that out for any babies? Help?
Thanks-Lisa

 

[claraserena]

You should have her food and water available but in addition I'd put treat food by her--canned corn, scrambled eggs, etc.--even try feeding her by hand. She won't eat much of anything but might take some treats

 

[chickenlisa]

Thanks- she ate the corn and some bread and seems to be getting some of her feed and water, from what I can see. But the other problem is that I have fenced her off in her corner with plenty of extra room if she wants it, and the other 2 hens keep getting in there somehow and laying an egg. Not each one and not everyday,but now there are 8 eggs and there were 5 under her for the first 5-6 days. I didn't mark them-she'd take my hand off just for looking~I use a rake handle to peak under her an inch or so...So I think I just have to leave these under her and try better to keep those other hens out of there. I'll end up with duds-eggs that won't hatch won't I? Or will she sit on them as long as it takes for all to hatch?
Thanks for all of your wisdom and experience...
Lisa

 

[Keshiaandadam]

Hey i Can honestly tell you she is content with the amount of eggs she is sitting on now they can continue to lay in there but chances are she isn't going to take on any more eggs so the 5 or so she is sitting on is what i would say she is going to stay on so your best bet or at least what i would do is take whatever other eggs she isn't sitting on because otherwise its just a waste of good eggs.

 

[marie_martin]

I think she said that all the eggs are under her?? If so, then you will have to wait and see. Once her first eggs hatch, she will probably get off the nest and leave the others. So they wont make it, unless you can get them right away and put them in a bator. You could try candling them in a week and see which ones seem more developed and take the rest? But if you can't get under her that will be a problem. Good luck.

Marie

 

[chickenlisa]

Thanks Marie-yes I did say that all the eggs are under her now. If Hen 2 and Hen 3 get in there, there will be more. There is ons of room under her. WHen I looked-she was all fluffed out and had more room for more eggs-I just don't want any more under her because of the spaced out times....Some are over a week old now and then there are 2 or 3 that are only 1 or 2 days old. I'll wait and see.... no 'bator here and I've never candled eggs before either.
Lisa

 

[pasofinofarm]

Yes she is ready to be a mother. The problem is that if she stays where they can the other hens will keep laying eggs in her nest and she will not set long enough to hatch the new eggs. Can you close her in where she is. We did this using a piece of fence and it worked great. We hung feeder and waterer from it too which worked out nicely. Ideally leave enough room for her to get out of the nest to eat, drink and poop.

Another alternative is to mark the eggs she is setting with a pencil and remove any that are added, eventually she will be just as cross with the other hens as she is with you and will stop letting them in the nest. Of course the problem with this is that you will have to use welding gloves or get pecked every day.

The best answer is to move her and her eggs to someplace secluded and quiet. She probably only has a little over 2 weeks to go so even a big cardboard box will do. A cage is ok but if the chicks can get out when they first hatch she may leave the eggs to tend the first chicks and you will lose the rest of the eggs so something with solid sides is better. Or you can take the chicks as they hatch and that will keep her on the nest untill all are hatched. Allow at least 2 or three days after the first chick to get the job done. You can give early chicks back to her later to mother by slipping them under her at night.

Congrats...and good luck.

 

[chickenlisa]

ok- we just got in there, and lifted her up , wearing gloves, and marked the 7 eggs with a pencil. She wsan't a happy girl, but was happy to go back on the eggs when we put her down nearby. Will keep you posted as we know anything....
Lisa
PS- why don't my smilies show up as the smiley-not the code that stands fo rit?