how does broody know...

[tuesdays chicks]

When to go into lock down. When she was broody before you gave her eggs to sit can she tell by the egg. Every thing seems so strange do they actually go into lockdown?

 

[ranchhand]

Mine did! I guess it's instinct. I suspect they can tell by the level of activity in the egg? I know they feel it, mine will stare down like "what the heck was THAT!".

 

[gryeyes]

Lockdown is actually for US people who artificially incubate eggs, although the broody hen is able to tell when the babies in the eggs are getting closer to hatching. She may not take her daily constitutional "break" during the last day or two, and if she does, she is gone only a very short time.

Lockdown is so WE don't futz with the incubator during the last critical 3 days.

 

[Tanichca]

Well its in their little chickeny brains to know when to go into "lockdown" And, if youre a believing person like me, thats just the way God designed it.