How long can a broody be away from the nest?

[Ravie]

I have a 9-month-old Easter Egger who disappeared for 4-5 days. I assumed she'd been killed but she came back home one day to eat and drink before running off again. I didn't see her for another 4-5 days after that.

This pattern has repeated a few times. If I were to guess, I'd say she's been sitting on the eggs for roughly two weeks now. I have not been able to locate the nest.

She's been home all day today and it's in the 70's. I'm assuming she's abandoned her kids and I'm pretty sad about it. If I knew where the eggs were, I'd gather them and try to finish incubating them myself.

Is this common? Could she still decide to return to the nest? How long can the eggs wait for her?

 

[Pinky]

Your broody hen knows just how long is too long off the nest

It is normal for a broody to get off the nest to eat, drink and poop. I had one hen that got off her nest every day for at least an hour to eat, drink and take dust baths before returning.

 

[Ravie]

Thanks, Pinky.

I realize they get off to eat, drink, and poop, but she was home for 10 hours straight before disappearing again. As far as I know she's out and about again today.

 

[Pinky]

When it gets closer to hatching time my hens run around a lot longer than normally, checking out the best places to bring their chicks and finding safe places for them. Don't forget to share some pics when they hatch!

 

[D'Angelo N Va.]

last year one of my D'uccle hens had been on the nest for about 2 weeks and then she got off the nest one morning and stayed off all day and that night got back on and her eggs all hatched.

 

[centrarchid]

Most recent hen I had produce a brood generally stayed off nest for 1 to 1.5 hours each day except on really cold days when she appeared to sit tight. Time off nest also related to how long required to feed up (top crop off). On several occasions feeding up took multiple hours because other birds consumed feed I set out for her. Clutch required 24 days following onset of brooding for first eggs to hatch. Time off nest may need to be factored into estimating hatch date when time before and during incubation is cold.

 

[Ravie]

Thank-you all for your help. My broody seems to have abandoned the nest and since I never found it, the babies are lost. She hasn't sat on her nest for nearly 48 hours and even slept in the coop last night. I'm bummed! Here's hoping my BR, BO or RIR will want to sit eggs when they're older. Maybe I should have gotten a cochin or silkie after all!

 

[centrarchid]

Quote:
It is very likely clutch lost to predation if brooding stopped shy of hatch date. Happens a lot. She will recondition and likely attempt in another location.

 

[Pinky]

Quote:
It is very likely clutch lost to predation if brooding stopped shy of hatch date. Happens a lot. She will recondition and likely attempt in another location.

I agree. I don't think she would just stop unless disturbed. Maybe next time she will go broody in your coop, or at least yard.

 

[centrarchid]

This may be appropriate for existing thread. I have a red jungle fowl (RJF) brooding a clutch in nest on front porch adjacent to were I sit down and watch free ranging flock and piddle fart in internet. It has enabled me to compare her brooding activities to those of an American game hen (Sallie) that hatched off a brood just over 2 weeks ago. Like Sallie she allows me to touch her and inspect eggs but unlike Sallie I suspect once brood hatches she will actively avoid me and flog if I approach to close. This RJF hen comes off nest twice a day to forage and seems to roll eggs multiple times during course of day. I wonder if her smaller size (similar although slightly larger than a bantam) requires her to feed more often.

Sallie is presently attacking my computer case trying get food from it. Kind of funny.