How long after a hen goes broody does she stop laying

chickenmama109

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Mar 5, 2017
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Hi I have a d,uccle that has hatched eggs before but she went broody last night :wootand I am waiting to see if she stays broody but I really want to hatch one of her eggs so how long after going broody would she stop laying. Thanks
 
Hi I have a d,uccle that has hatched eggs before but she went broody last night :wootand I am waiting to see if she stays broody but I really want to hatch one of her eggs so how long after going broody would she stop laying. Thanks
It depends on the hen a bit.
I've had hens go broody, sit for two days and then change their mind. They laid both the days they sat.
I've had other hens that sat continuously but laid eggs for another couple of days while sitting.
I would guesstimate three to four days and she'll stop.
 
Some hens will go broody more gradually, sitting longer on the nest after laying each day for up to a week before sitting all day and night. Others will seem to go fully broody instantly and lay one last egg to sit on forever and ever (or until something hatches or some mean human kicks them out). I have found mine mostly lay a second last egg then sit almost all day, then a final egg the next day to sit on full time. However occasionally this final egg will be a soft shell or otherwise weird because their egg producing system will be shutting down. I say if you want to hatch a going-broody hen's egg you need to save the first egg you see her produce at the first sign of broodiness, just in case it turns out to be the last.
 

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