We had an invader in the coop last night and my broody hen left her eggs, not sure for how long. How long is it safe for them to leave their incubatees? I candled one this morning and I saw movement. They are at day 11. Thanks for your help. Yes, I will handle the intruder issue a (mouse or rat - I saw the droppings in her nesting box... I know she left the box for the first time because I saw the infamous "broody poo" - scary!)
She will get up frequently in the beginning to eat and drink. She knows what she is doing. Usually a mouse won't make them break their brood. If you think she broke her broodiness you can put the eggs in an incubator and finish them yourself.
Is she back on the eggs? If she is I would think there isn't a problem. I had one that would escape and I would leave her alone for about 20 minutes then catch her and put her back on the nest. She had a 100% hatch and is doing great as a mom.
Quote:And there was a thread just yesterday where a broody had a SNAKE under her, and she stayed sitting! If a hen gets up - its probably to get food, water or to poop. I have (another)broody, I have only left her one egg, she gets off every morning to get the sunflower seeds I throw out for all of them, but she goes right back to her egg.
I had one off long enough that the eggs were about the same temp as outside (68 degrees or so) and she still hatched almost everything.
68 degrees is considered to be a pretty warm day where I live -- when the days are nice, my broodies stay off for longer periods of time. If the weather is nasty they only come off the nest for a very short time or not at all.
Yes, she got back on her nest and seems very committed to being there. Also, I notice that sometimes her eggs are sticking out her sides, not completely under her keeping warm. Is this a problem. She is sitting on 7 eggs, day 11.