help need advice

[ozzy chooks]

Hi,

last night I put fertile eggs under my 2 broody pullets.
I did move the pullets from the nesting box to a larger box with the eggs at dark.
I hatched chicks once before and it work really well.

Because these are new pullets I got up early this morning to check they were still sitting on the eggs. At around 6.15am

One pullet was just outside when I checked but when I checked the other (who is the dominant and more committed) she vanished... Looked for her everywhere and I started panicking.
Then I got on top of something to check over the fence and there she was in one of the neighbours' yard.

I went over (it was the back neighbour so It took a bit of a walk) and of course it was too early and they didn't answer. I could access their yard so I did and managed to have the pullet back.

When she got in she didn't sit on the eggs but in the nesting box. The other just follows her.
Because she was of course stressed I just moved the fertile eggs under them (after trying once to move the pullets on the eggs).

The eggs were not warm, I am assuming they sat on them all night long they might have left them when it got bright which happens around 5.30am and by the time I put the eggs back under the broodies it was 7am. Should I worried about the eggs not being viable anymore? As I said I first put them under the pullet last night around 8.30/9pm.
Or it all should be OK?
Thank you for your advice and support.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

They may be okay. Generally hens like sitting in their chosen spot. It doesn't matter if they have eggs or not for many of them so moving them doesn't work. You will need to keep an eye on them as they may not return to the eggs whenever they get off the nest. Not every broody is a good mom either.

 

[CluckNDoodle]

I'm only guessing, but I would think because you're only dealing with 1 night that they will be fine. Broody hen's do some odd things the first few days before they decide they're committed so I would think that nature takes this into account. I'm unfortunately dealing with a similar scenario right now myself, but my broody has been sitting on them for 15 days now. I hope all goes well and you have healthy peeps in 21 days!

 

[ozzy chooks]

Good luck.

The pullets have been broody for 3 weeks and decided to give them eggs in the end.
The previous time the other broody kept sitting on the eggs when I changed her spot and put her in a broody box.

Tonight I moved the box in a different spot and hopefully it will work, fingers crossed.

Still hoping the eggs are viable

 

[ClareDB]

Ive had the same prob

Hi,

last night I put fertile eggs under my 2 broody pullets.
I did move the pullets from the nesting box to a larger box with the eggs at dark.
I hatched chicks once before and it work really well.

Because these are new pullets I got up early this morning to check they were still sitting on the eggs. At around 6.15am

One pullet was just outside when I checked but when I checked the other (who is the dominant and more committed) she vanished... Looked for her everywhere and I started panicking.
Then I got on top of something to check over the fence and there she was in one of the neighbours' yard.

I went over (it was the back neighbour so It took a bit of a walk) and of course it was too early and they didn't answer. I could access their yard so I did and managed to have the pullet back.

When she got in she didn't sit on the eggs but in the nesting box. The other just follows her.
Because she was of course stressed I just moved the fertile eggs under them (after trying once to move the pullets on the eggs).

The eggs were not warm, I am assuming they sat on them all night long they might have left them when it got bright which happens around 5.30am and by the time I put the eggs back under the broodies it was 7am. Should I worried about the eggs not being viable anymore? As I said I first put them under the pullet last night around 8.30/9pm.
Or it all should be OK?
Thank you for your advice and support.

l

 

[ClareDB]

Ive had the same problem so I pick up the whole nest box in the dark and move them to a separate pen, Mine is a huge roll away too, takes 2 to lift it but I find once they're settled and happy not to move its just easier. You may be ok but it could be a low hatch, checking at 7 days is the only way youll know for sure. Good luck.

 

[Shadrach]

Good luck.

The pullets have been broody for 3 weeks and decided to give them eggs in the end.
The previous time the other broody kept sitting on the eggs when I changed her spot and put her in a broody box.

Tonight I moved the box in a different spot and hopefully it will work, fingers crossed.

Still hoping the eggs are viable

If you pullets have been broody and sitting for three weeks, that is the amount of time it takes to hatch a chick. I think it's far to late to try to get them to sit for another three weeks and probably not good for their health.
Brooddies tend to lock to the egg site/nest rather than the eggs. Moving the broodies around just confuses them.
My advice is to give this one up and try again the next time they go broody.

 

[Anna Ranieri]

If you pullets have been broody and sitting for three weeks, that is the amount of time it takes to hatch a chick. I think it's far to late to try to get them to sit for another three weeks and probably not good for their health.
Brooddies tend to lock to the egg site/nest rather than the eggs. Moving the broodies around just confuses them.
My advice is to give this one up and try again the next time they go broody.