Here's the deal... she was sitting on 5 eggs and a week later there's 7

[Happy Camper]

... This is my first broody hen. There are 2 other hens in the coop and the hen that's broody (Mamita) is in her nest kind of private from everybody else, but not separate (meaning other hens could have access.

I checked on her for the first 5 to 7 seven days every day when she was coming out of her nest more often. Three days ago I heard the "noise" the flock makes when a hen lays... I went to check everywhere but underneath Mamita and saw nothing. There are other 3 nests where other hens canlay if they want to (although they are "connected" to Mamita's).

Today I heard the same and checked everywhere again, but underneath Mamita... saw nothing.

In the afternoon I was courious about the eggs and moved her to check on them when I counted SEVEN!!! The first 5, should be hatching on August 19... I guess I should start preparing my incubator right???

I thought hens don't lay eggs when they are broody... Could it be that another hen layed on Mamita's nest when she left to eat???

Need advice and testimonials please... I'll wait here and learn from the masters...

 

[RoosterAddict99]

My best guess is that when Mamita went to eat, a hen went to lay in her nest. I've found hens prefer to lay in nests that already have eggs in them. But then again some hens will only be broody for a while then start laying eggs again, leaving the eggs partly incubated. This has happened to me before.

 

[Happy Camper]

This is called being a "newbie"...

I should have separated her from day 1... I guess another hen is laying cause, she is still pretty broody (meaning I have not seen her leave the nest in a couple days) and I guess if she started laying again should be detaching from the nest... I don't know that's just me guessing...

I have the option of enclosing her where she is to avoid any more egg laying visits to her nest... I think I will do that asap tomorrow...

Do you think she'll still sit on them? If I do this she'll have to eat and drink from a cup... See, her nest is connected to a pretty big wired cage. I'd just have to shut the cage door that leads outside... However I worry this change may make her go unbroody...

If I do this... do I have to "show" her where her food and water is now or will she try to find it?

Thanks for your quick advice.

 

[donrae]

Well, for next time...........lol.

When I have a broody in with other hens, I mark the eggs I want her to sit on. I just use a sharpie and draw a line all the way around the egg, that way I can see it no matter which way the egg is turned. When I'm out collecting eggs, once a day, I (put on gloves) and lift the hen's rear from the nest. I just visually check that all the eggs under her have the sharpie mark on them, and remove any that don't. I disturb her as little as possible and don't mess with the eggs at all. I just don't have the pens, etc to remove a broody from the others.

I think the other hens climb in WITH the broody to lay their eggs, truthfully!

 

[Happy Camper]

Well that's great advice... for some reason when you get your 1rst egg, 1rst broody hen etc... you want things to go undisturbed cause there's the feeling this won't happen again anytime soon...

Hopefully she'll stay and finish up to the hatching day... I may even try some candling tomorrow to see if I can spot the most recent eggs. if I can't I'll let it be... and have my incubator ready...

 

[Achickenwrangler#1]

Yeah, mark those eggs...I've had hens sit on way too many before I knew it. If the new eggs are only a day or two from the time she went broody, she may hatcch them too. Some hens will let others lay while they sit.

 

[Happy Camper]

No... that's the thing... these would be at least 8 days apart

.

 

[FuzzyButtsFarm]

In my experience the hen will sit on the chicks and unhatched eggs for 24 to 48 hrs after the chicks have hatched. She will then coax the chicks out of the nest and leave the unhatched eggs to take care of the chicks. You can finish the incubation in you incubator. Seeing how there's a 8 day difference in age I wouldn't try slipping them back under the hen at night. They would look too different from the chicks she has and in all probability would reject (kill) them. Good luck. I had 6 broodys last year and 8 and still counting this year. I think broodiness is contagious.

 

[CarolJ]

I do the same as donrae. Marking the eggs you want your broody to sit on makes it very simple. I've opened up the nest box and seen another chicken sitting next to the broody. Each day I have to remove at least one or two eggs that other hens have laid next to my broody. Without having the eggs marked, I'd never be able to figure out which are which.

 

[Achickenwrangler#1]

No... that's the thing... these would be at least 8 days apart

.

Yikes! Glad you have an incubator then you will need it! I've had seven broods already, and they aren't done yet, I suppose....but I needed more chicks anyway.