I have three broody hens that I put eggs under and now one of them was up and out on the run this morning. Will she go back and get on the eggs? Should I go ahead and move them to the other two hens who are still on the nests? Help! I'm new at this hatching thing.
They do get up..... Keep an eye on her an if she does not go back after an hour move them under another. Maybe sooner if its real cold.
Keep an eye on her. Broodies generally get off the nest for short periods of time to stretch, eat and drink. If she doesn't go back on the nest in about an hour, move the eggs to someone else.
Hens have to leave the nest for a few minutes daily for food and eliminations. If she is off for 30 minutes, move the eggs to another hen, providing she can cover them properly. If the eggs were started at a different time, don`t move them. They must be incubated or discarded. Some hens just don`t get it. Don`t trust her with another clutch, if she quits. Sometimes it happens.
bump! How long has she been off the eggs? It could be she is just stretching and will hop back on in a bit. If not and these are valuable eggs concider giving them to the others. Also...from what I've seen around here many people separate their broodies from the rest of the population and provide seperate food and water dishes so that if the hen gets up she doesn't have far to go, doesn't have to compete with others for food and water, won't have others laying eggs on top of her, and won't get distracted. You may want to start thinking about how you are going to be able to do this. Good luck!
If she's back on the nest by now, you don't have a problem. If she is not and the other broody's can cover them, move them. If they were started at the same time, you don't have a problem. If they were started at different times and you can move them to the other broody's, mark them before you move them so you know which is which. Then, if another hen goes broody before they hatch, give these eggs to her. An incubator is also an option if you have one. Some hens are better brooders than others. Lollipop is right. If she quits, never trust her again. If you are raising replacements and she is not a good brooder, I'd cull her so her traits are not incorporated into your flock. Good luck.
She's back on the nest! I gues her mama hen (me) just doesn't know what she's doing with these chickens yet. I'm learning, I hope. You guys and gals are wonderful help. She looks settled in for a while. I guess I just didn't think straight when I saw her outside when she's usually inside on the nest. They have food and water inside the coop, so I guess the other two are either going out when I'm not noticing or just eating and drinking and pooping inside the coop and not out on the run like Trixie was. I cried wolf too early, maybe, but I learned something!
