Hen (Nest question)

[jersy87]

Hi,
I am letting one of my hens sit for the first time she is just a 1yr old. When will she start offically sitting. She has 11 eggs right now. There is also some of her feathers in the nest, and she has been clucking around it as well.

 

[NeeleysAVLChicks]

Has she been appearing broody? Sitting/sleeping on her nest all the time, puffing up and growling if someone comes nearby, pulling out her chest feathers?

If not, if you're just leaving eggs in the nest and waiting for her to start sitting on them, unfortunately that's not likely to happen. More likely will be that one of your hens will discover that if they crack open the egg, there is delicious stuff inside, and then you'll have an egg-eater on your hands.

 

[jersy87]

Yes she gets mad if u go near it. she'll growl and cackle. She sits on it some but not consistantly yet. She has pulled some feathers which are in the nest.

 

[paparootzi]

I believe I've heard that every bird has a certain # of eggs in their own minds that they want to lay before they start to sit on them and once they get to that #, they will go ahead and sit so that ALL EGGs hatch out at the same time (21 days). Pretty smart, huh? Some have smaller #'s in mind but one of mine started sitting after she had 12, so it may be soon!!!

 

[jersy87]

12 eggs in nest this morning. She wasnt as protective but i think its cuz she is a first timer who is still trying to figure it out. Im hoping she sits.

 

[MareeZoCool]

Quote:
I was wondering.. How's your weather? Could be she's waiting for true spring temps to signal her maternal instincts My hen first tried setting in Feb. those eggs froze. My hubby insisted that I be the villain, and take her off the nest.

could be the reason my hen is acting so angry when I get near her nest now.

I just keep taking her our daily treats.

 

[jersy87]

It has varied from 40s to 80s. So i dont know. There is 13eggs in the nest now. No real big signs of her wanting to sit. Err Its not been a week yet so im giving her time. I hope she will sit soon.

 

[jersy87]

err what to do??? Their were 18 eggs in the nest this morning I took 3 out left it at 15. Thought that was too big. Tempatures have dropped to 33s. How long should I wait to see if she is going to sit or not?