Hi, the whole clutch hatched!!! When will my hen take a break?

[Kakaruk]

Hello Friends,

Some of you may have seen my post yesterday, we had two chicks hatch first under my Buffy, the other three hatched last night and early this morning! So all five little chicks look healthy and strong. Other than me moving out the egg shells...... we now wonder when Buffy will get up from them and take a break. In ya'lls experience, when do you think she might get up from them and 'take a break?' Right now it is like she is still brooding and they are mostly comfy and cozy under her wings and breast.

 

[DobieLover]

Hello Friends,

Some of you may have seen my post yesterday, we had two chicks hatch first under my Buffy, the other three hatched last night and early this morning! So all five little chicks look healthy and strong. Other than me moving out the egg shells...... we now wonder when Buffy will get up from them and take a break. In ya'lls experience, when do you think she might get up from them and 'take a break?' Right now it is like she is still brooding and they are mostly comfy and cozy under her wings and breast.

My broody took her brood off the nest the day after they all hatched and after feeding them and herself, she went for a dust bath with them walking all over her.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

It depends on the bird. My phoenixes will sometimes just wait until they're all dried off and ready to walk and some of mine wait a few days before actually going back to normal

 

[NorthernMIFlock]

My buff-o hatched out 4 last June and she was out of the nest with all of them later that day. I think she was ready to get OUT after sitting non stop for 3 weeks.

 

[Kakaruk]

Update: So Buffy during the past three weeks was off the eggs at least once a day, that we saw anyway, usually in the morning - a very diligent girl! When the hatching started Saturday and then continued Sunday she did not leave her eggs or brood at all. Even after they all hatched. Today we gave her a little cup of water and food bits like greens/lettuce chopped and cheese that her the chicks liked. This evening I got her bedding area more prepared and got the chick feed and chick waterer (with stones in there) and she really settled in and purred. She seemed happy and the chicks also ate a little and drank a little water. Before sundown she was not getting up and I picked her up and sat her down outside the coop, she pooped right away! Then she went around and got right back up with the chicks!

I think if she doesn't get out regularly over the next few days I will continue to do this to help her take her little break.

The five chicks are beautiful and doing great!