How long can you keep a broody broody

[deerman]

Use broody game hens to start peafowl eggs, they will set for months.

As long as they get off for food and water, they are fine except they may get fat setting. Mine will put on weight.

 

[Chicks_N_Horses]

As long as you need her to be on the job

I let my broody hatch out 2 or 3 batches back to back. (that is a little over 3 months of straight broody time) Then I like to let her run around the yard after that for 2 weeks to give her a little break then it is right back to work! She never gets ill or any less healthy from it at all....

Matter of fact mine has been off for a week now. But I have eggs she needs to be sitting on as I have no more room in the bator so she is back to work as of today.

 

[Feathered Wings]

Quote:
Sounds like you have a staggered hatch under a hen.
This is bad for both the chicks and the hen as when the first chick hatches in a couple days after it's hatched it will want to leave the nest.

The hen will not abandon the eggs so the chicks come out on their own.
She will sit till all the eggs hatch leaveing the already hatched chicks to fend for themselves.
It's stressful for the hen as the hatched chick wants to eat and drink but theres still eggs so she doesn't know what to do.
Please try and set your eggs all at the same time

Now as to your question a broody hen will sit forever and thats no joke.
I have had mine on golf balls waiting on me to buy eggs to put under them or just waiting to get enough to set.
A broody hen is like running a incubator constantly she will sit long as you want her to.
I set mine only once and let them hatch and raise the babys.
Hey no light or changing messy litter "yuck" and they have supervision 24/7 from good ole mom

 

[derby]

I started another thread about how I have both a chicken egg and a duck egg under my broody. Do I understand correctly: If the chick hatches, I can take the chick inside the house for a few days which will encourage the broody to continue to sit on the duck egg? Then when the duck hatches 3 days later, I can return the chick to her so she can mother both the duck and chick?

Derby