Hen sitting on eggs, but did not pluck her breast feathers

[1906]

I have a Heritage Rhode Island Red hen who went broody, not for the first time, but it is the first time I have put fertile eggs under her (and my first time using a hen to hatch eggs). She is very committed, I have to take her off the nest every morning to go and eat, drink and relieving herself which she does as soon as I put her down in their free range area. She spends between 20 to 30 minutes doing all her eating, drinking, stretching, dust bathing ect before she heads straight back to her eggs. However I have noticed that she did not pluck her breast feathers. Would that compromise the hatching, like in the eggs would not be exposed to enough humidity?

 

[Ridgerunner]

I’m not sure where you are located so I don’t know what fruits or berries are in season, but grab a bowl of vanilla ice cream, add some locally grown in-season fruit or berries at your pleasure, and chill. Relax. The hen knows what he is doing a lot better than you or me. She is in charge.

There is nothing you can do to help, if help were even needed. It’s not. There are several things you could do that would cause harm. There is no reason for you to interfere, none at all. There are reasons to not interfere.

Here’s hoping for a good hatch.

 

[1906]

Thank you very much for your answer. I thought she is okay, especially because she is so committed, but needed a bit of reasuarance

 

[Ridgerunner]

 

[1906]

Hi Ridgrunner. Just want to let you know 2 healthy chicks have hatched! I put 6 eggs under my hen, bought from a local lady who is willing to take any roosters that may hatch. I have candled on day 8, noticed 3 were developing, but was not sure about the other 3. Candled on day 10 again, sadly one had a clear bloodring, so I removed it, 2 were still on track and I was still unsure about the other 3, although I did not think it was developing. Candled on day 17: 2 still good, other 3 still the same. So I removed those 3, opened it and there was nothing in them, just yellow fluid, no smell either. The 2 little chicks arrived right on time, no problems at all, so happy! My hen, Elsie, turned out to be a very good mother too. I was worried about that because no one recommends Rhode Island Reds for brooding, but she is a natural. Thanks for your advice when I (my hen) started with the process, much appreciated!

 

[Ridgerunner]

Again

That's good news.