How long does broody hen get off nest?

[chicklets81]

I have my first broody hen! She started sitting on Saturday. I marked the 3 eggs she laid, and put another 5 under her from other breeds. She has 8 total.

Whenever I get home from work, she always has 5 or 6 more eggs under her, in addition to the ones I've marked. But isn't it true that chickens lay eggs at all times of the day?

Does anyone know if a chicken will lay an egg quicker if theres a big nest or does she have to get off every time a chicken wants to lay on her nest? I work during the week, so I haven't been able to spend much time "watching" her behavior with the nest. Anyone ever watched to know how the hen does her egg nest? I'm very intrigued about how all the extra eggs end up under her every day.

 

[PD-Riverman]

I have my first broody hen! She started sitting on Saturday. I marked the 3 eggs she laid, and put another 5 under her from other breeds. She has 8 total.

Whenever I get home from work, she always has 5 or 6 more eggs under her, in addition to the ones I've marked. But isn't it true that chickens lay eggs at all times of the day?

Does anyone know if a chicken will lay an egg quicker if theres a big nest or does she have to get off every time a chicken wants to lay on her nest? I work during the week, so I haven't been able to spend much time "watching" her behavior with the nest. Anyone ever watched to know how the hen does her egg nest? I'm very intrigued about how all the extra eggs end up under her every day.

This is one of the reasons I move all my broody hens. Yes they lay all different times, No the hen does not have to get off for the others to lay----If your nesting box has a little size there might be 3 hens in one box, just keep removing them every day till day 19---then at that time ""I"" do not remove any more because I would not want to tilt her causing her to loose the moisture she has built up for the hatch---I use to block my hen in on day 19 some years back so no other hen can get in her nest causing problems---day 22 I would remove the block---no food or water during that time-----she would not get off the nest at that time to eat or drink anyway and if you put food or water in her nest before blocking it off---you will create a problem----Just trust me on this.

 

[chicklets81]

I have a couple rows of nesting boxes. The first row, which is the one she Is using, is made of milk crates, with the front cut down to create a lip. So, the box is pretty small. I wouldn't think another chicken would fit in it with her....

Does she steal eggs, or does she get off the nest and another chicken lays one on top? If she gets off, how long does she stay off?

I guess I'll have to do some chicken observation this weekend!


I have no place to move her to. Only one coop, and no other shed/barn/garage on my property.

 

[PD-Riverman]

I have a couple rows of nesting boxes. The first row, which is the one she Is using, is made of milk crates, with the front cut down to create a lip. So, the box is pretty small. I wouldn't think another chicken would fit in it with her....

Does she steal eggs, or does she get off the nest and another chicken lays one on top? If she gets off, how long does she stay off?

I guess I'll have to do some chicken observation this weekend!


I have no place to move her to. Only one coop, and no other shed/barn/garage on my property.

I use medium size to large dog kennels I pick up for $20 +/- and I have many other broody pens. Most of my nest are milk crates with part of the front cut out. Also moving a broody has to be done right or you can cause her to become un-broody---I never have that problem but I am set-up for it. Usually a broody will get off the nest once a day for a little while to eat/poop, etc----how long is according to the temp----if its a cold day----just minutes-----a warm/hot day maybe 1/2 hour.

No I have never seen a broody go steal eggs---some say they have.