How long can a broody hen get off her eggs?

[20736]

You may already have poults, judging by her suddenly protective nature.
Let Nature take it's course. She sits as long as she sits.
There is nor substitute for a hen. She beats the incubator every time.
RELAX!

 

[rancher hicks]

You may already have poults, judging by her suddenly protective nature.
Let Nature take it's course. She sits as long as she sits.
There is nor substitute for a hen. She beats the incubator every time.
RELAX!

Amen to that. I've had a heck of a time hatching Birchen Marans eggs in the incubator but one hen has done 5/6 on them. Others do very well too. I no longer plan to use the incubator unless it's something I really want to do.

 

[mg15]

It's not normal for you to mess with her at all. She knows how long to stay off the nest and she would not get off the nest 3 or 4 times a day. I don't know where you are getting your information. She will eat as much as she wants. She knows what she's doing.

As long as she has room to get off and go and eat and poop she should be fine. I have hens I rarely see off the nest. I've yet to read of anyone finding their brooding hen dead on the nest.

Sorry if this seems harsh, I don't mean for it to be.

Rancher

Rancher you are mean.
I have feelings of relief and
feelings of hurt for being yelled at by a cranky old school marm.
You could have said the same **** thing in a better tone.

 

[rancher hicks]

Rancher you are mean.
I have feelings of relief and
feelings of hurt for being yelled at by a cranky old school marm.
You could have said the same **** thing in a better tone.

Now , now, you know I meant well. I'm not a school marm just an old geezer. It's hard to get the "tone" right since we've lost the art of the written word.

I do hope your eggs hatch just fine and wish you the best,

Rancher

 

[mg15]

Rancher

You are a well intentioned "old geezer" and
actually I feel relieved Dottie is going to be okay.
I believe what you say.
Thank you for your advice.
mg

 

[rancher hicks]

Now if you don't mind asking, what do you keep her in inside the house?

See the thing is. I saw an article where they took one of those old metal baby cribs and converted it into an indoor chicken pen. Complete with a grass floor and all. It was really cool and WE have one of those cribs in this office right now for my GD.

My thoughts were if anything happened to DW and I had to move into an apartment I would keep a hen or two inside or on an enclosed balcony. I'd convert this crib into a pen for a couple of bantams.

I see no difference than keeping a parrot. Except that chickens lay eggs and probably make less noise.

 

[mg15]

Dear Rancher

That's a good idea for the balcony. Or even for inside. But the balcony sounds really posh.
Actually I never intended to have an indoor chicken. It happened because I had 32 chicks and of those, 2 were Japanese Bantams. One was a little bigger and tougher but the littlest one would have just turned into "road kill", it was sad. I took her upstairs and eventually she went into a bird cage. She didn't stay there too long because I felt sorry for her so I let her out all the time. Poo here there and everywhere. Got the chicken diapers, one she learned how to take off and this new one she can't get off. So that problem solved. (could not handle the poo thing).
She goes outside but is separated from the others. Sometimes she comes in a little punchy, and it only took one round.... through a fence. Poor thing,...... it's down right embarrasing.
the dogs know to leave her alone in the house.

She is sitting constantly on her nest right now, it is day 13 she has been sitting. I think the eggs are getting bigger, nah.....that can't be.

As far as the chicken/parrot bird, I would definitely rather have a bantam chicken. The parrots are loud and messy. And they don't lay eggs like you said.
Dottie sits on my shoulder, eats turkey burgers, and she laughs and laughs because she is eating a "turkey" burger.
She has lots of personality, greets people, and she makes little sounds that are so sweet. I would never have known a chicken could make so many different sounds.

mg

 

[rancher hicks]

That sounds cool. I don't see why keeping a chicken indoors should be any different than any other indoor bird.

 

[TW1Kell]

I agree, tho all of mine are outside birds. I've had Budgies and Cockatiels, soooo...

As for Rancher's advice, it was spot-on. Leave her alone. Gamey eats very little when she's brooding, and doesn't get down every day. She actually poops in the same place in her large "brooding cage". Poops in one pile. I never would have thought that. As for forcing her to get down? I wouldn't do it. As we've said, they know more about the whole routine than we will ever know. Let them do the job, and everything will be fine. I have had an RiR go broody, this week, as well. Good God. 'Bator hatching and 2 hens broody...oh, and I have chicks at 8, 7, and 3 weeks old, already, and now I am in the middle of hatching days. I went from 75 chickens to well over 100 in less than a month! I am currently discouraging any broodiness by stealing eggs from all others trying to go broody. I just hope this doesn't cause Chicken Depression! hehe I can't afford any more chickens!

 

[mg15]

TW1Kell
You mentioned a "brooding cage", what does that look like.
IF, Dotties eggs hatch, I have to put her somewhere else besides on top of the
tower of clothes in a dishpan.

Thanks.