how long can a broody hen be off her eggs?

[Gingersnap722]

Here is Gabby with her babies. Such a good mommy!

 

[ellabellachick]

My broody has been sitting on adopted eggs for 9 days, but the past three days she has been off her nest in the early morning for upto 8 hours at a time, letting her eggs go cold, it's so frustrating! I was able to transfer her successfully to her own quarters with broody nest box at day 4 (after dark) so all seemed well... But now I am doubtful they'll be hatchers. Still I'm going to wait another day and have a go at candling tomorrow to check for signs of life. As an first timer at this (both me & the broody), my question is, do I lock her in her box in an attempt to force her to sit for longer? I'm not really keen to do this, but would like her to do her job and hatch them. The process to date has been an emotional rollercoaster. Who knew?!

Hi Dee, it was d-day yesterday and I'm pleased to report that one of my 6 eggs has hatched so far. This was after mother hen abandoning her nest and letting the eggs go cold at day 8 and 9 for upto 8 hours each day. On day 9 I transferred them to a neighbours incubator. I'll have to wait and see if there are any more chicks to follow but Im hopeful! Ella

It's now day 23 and from my 6 fertile eggs (which were abandoned by mother hen), 2 have hatched and a further 2 are hatching (following a transfer to an incubator at day 9). Success!

 

[darkbrahmamama]

I just candled my eggs, & it looks like all 5 are good! I think they're a week out. I don't really know when they got started, since she was off of them so much until I got the incubator. I'm irritated with myself for not getting an incubator sooner, or at least saving the 3 eggs that started just to see what would happen. Not bad, out of I think 9 eggs total, only 1 that wasn't fertile, 5 are doing good so far, & the others probably would have too if it wasn't for my lack of knowledge! I think I'm hooked ..... going to incubate a batch in spring.

 

[Jacqdiva]

I am trying a first time broody with 8 eggs...well 7. She had some sort of disaster today. Cracked one of her own (other hens eggs under her too. She must have tried to move them all away from the witness of the broken egg and wasn't sitting on them all properly, so some felt cold.. I fixed it all up and put her back in her proper place. Fingers crossed. I am happy for her to learn to be a mother. Looking forward to this option of a broody in my flock, instead of raising all from the incubator.

 

[sahmhomesteader]

I am trying a first time broody with 8 eggs...well 7. She had some sort of disaster today. Cracked one of her own (other hens eggs under her too. She must have tried to move them all away from the witness of the broken egg and wasn't sitting on them all properly, so some felt cold.. I fixed it all up and put her back in her proper place. Fingers crossed. I am happy for her to learn to be a mother. Looking forward to this option of a broody in my flock, instead of raising all from the incubator.

Hoping they hatch for you!

I have never hatched eggs from a broody or from an incubator. This is my first time. My broody is a speckled susse, and I think she has been sitting on the eggs for about 12 days. I am scared because we have been battling lice, and I have had to treat her with Poultry Protector multiple times. Plus I have had to move her nest and clean. Some of the time she has been off the nest for an hour. I really hope the eggs have not gotten too cold. I have not candled as I am scared to death to break an egg or turn it wrong.

 

[Jacqdiva]

Hoping they hatch for you!

I have never hatched eggs from a broody or from an incubator. This is my first time. My broody is a speckled susse, and I think she has been sitting on the eggs for about 12 days. I am scared because we have been battling lice, and I have had to treat her with Poultry Protector multiple times. Plus I have had to move her nest and clean. Some of the time she has been off the nest for an hour. I really hope the eggs have not gotten too cold. I have not candled as I am scared to death to break an egg or turn it wrong.

Maybe you could look up about using neem oil. I use it as we are organic. It is amazing stuff. Brush some into your perches and make up a spray for the bedding. I also have a dust bath in their coop an put some hydrated lime and diatomaceous earth so they can self medicate too.

You will do fine just make sure you put something soft under where you are candling and don't hold them too high. Rest your hands on a bench while you candle if it makes you less anxious. Good luck! Let us know how it goes.

 

[darkbrahmamama]

If you use the neem oil be careful if you have dogs or cats, I know it can be toxic to them if ingested. Permethrin dust or sevin is supposed to be good, but cats are sensitive to permethrin. The eggs should be fine as long as she still goes back to them. They can be off for hours, they can even go cold. My hen completely ignored the eggs because she wasn't happy in the stall ...... she wanted to be in the indoor horse arena! I found holding them with the pointy end up, light on the top, drawing a mark on the air socket once a week worked best. You can do that by simply putting them in an egg carton. If the air cell grows, they're good! I'm not experienced enough to tell if they're good by what I see, brown eggs are tuff!

 

[sahmhomesteader]

Maybe you could look up about using neem oil. I use it as we are organic. It is amazing stuff. Brush some into your perches and make up a spray for the bedding. I also have a dust bath in their coop an put some hydrated lime and diatomaceous earth so they can self medicate too.

You will do fine just make sure you put something soft under where you are candling and don't hold them too high. Rest your hands on a bench while you candle if it makes you less anxious. Good luck! Let us know how it goes.

Yay, I did it!! 3 of 4 eggs had blood vessels and air sacs (not sure if that is what they are called). We removed the bad egg and left the rest. I am so excited! I hope this means they are developing well and still alive! I think they look to be between 12 and 13 days.

 

[Jacqdiva]

That is great! It means you won't have to wait too long either. Post how it all goes.

 

[darkbrahmamama]

It becomes addicting watching them in the eggs when they were moving. It's super exciting when they start peeping, & they peep back when you whistle.