Help please!

[jjrj254]

I have a broody hen that only has a few days to hatch 18 eggs but yesterday when I got back from work she was sitting in the wrong nest box and I don't know how long she was away from hers, does anyone know if this will affect the chicks from hatching?

 

[heartsizedfarm]

Did you put her back on the right nest? Did she stay?

 

[azelgin]

You have a lot of variables in play here.
First, the warmer the weather, the less critical the time off nest will be. Next, the nearer to hatch time, the chances are better for survival. the embryos start to make their own heat from their metabolism. With the large mass of eggs, they aren't going to cool off as fast, either..
I would bet this isn't the first time she has been on the wrong nest. You just haven't caught her before.
When I'm going to let a broody hatch eggs, I move her to an area that has the choice of only 1 nest. If I don't, she always ends up in the wrong nest.
Hope it works out for you.

 

[jjrj254]

Yes I put her back and she did stay, I tried moving her before but she wouldn't stay and want I return to her coop, and thanks for the advice I feel much better since it was hot yesterday

 

[heartsizedfarm]

Best of luck! She sounds like a great broody, if maybe a little absent-minded. I had one of those. After the chicks were hatched I made the mistake of letting her go too soon and off she ran to the veg garden, leaving her peeping distressed chicks behind as if they meant nothing to her compared to a few grubs and bugs. I had to fetch her back, silly thing. Let us know when your chicks come!

 

[jjrj254]

Great news!!! All 18 finished hatching a few minutes ago, had 100% hatch rate for the second year in a row