How long for a broody?

[Heather J]

Okay, so I have three silkies. Two went broody just over two weeks ago and are sitting on some eggs. A third went broody this past week. My question is, if I give the newest broody some eggs that are due to hatch (from my bator) around the 7th, that will be only two weeks of broodiness. First, do you think she'll accept them, or kick them out when they are so close to being done. And second, will two weeks of broodiness be satisfied with babies, or am I going to have her still determined to sit for a while longer?

I'd really prefer to have them all done being broody within a few days of each other--if only for simplicity. They are all about 9 and a half months old and have never been broody before, so I have no idea how good of moms they'll be. I've never had a broody actually stay on eggs long enough to hatch anything (my muscovies gave up after about three weeks last year, so I gave her chicken eggs to hatch instead, though, thankfully I have some duck eggs due the same time that I'll give her to hatch and mother, if she's any good at it.)

Once they hatch, if the hens (or pullets in this case) decide to be responsible mothers, how long will it be before they start laying, approximately (since I know every bird is different). I know my cochins have been laying in that nest for the past couple of days, so I'll have to pull the extra eggs and transfer them to my bator a couple of days before hatch.

Strangely my girls actually do let me pick them up and check the eggs for the pencil line, remove extras and return them to the nest--odd, I know, though the third broody seems to be more territorial.

Oh, wait, I thought this was supposed to be a simple question! lol

 

[Heather J]

Nobody?

 

[Matt A NC]

Last year, "Pigie" was broody in her nest for a grand total of 4 days. I gave her the eggs as I took them out of the turner. She accepted them just fine.

The hen will accept easier if the eggs have not hatched or pipped before you give them to her. Make sure no other hen can get to her or they could break eggs trying to lay their eggs under her.

A good mother will stay with her babies for 6 weeks or so. My hens have always started laying a week or so before leaving the little ones. When I see the babies waiting outside a house while momma is inside on a nest, I know they will be on their own in a few days.

Matt

 

[azelgin]

Quote:
I've done this a few times also. Usually I've stolen a few eggs from a broody that's decided to hord over a dozen. Easier to have a couple of hens taking care of a half dozen, instead of one dealing with a dozen

The hen will accept easier if the eggs have not hatched or pipped before you give them to her. Make sure no other hen can get to her or they could break eggs trying to lay their eggs under her.

We have good luck moving the broodies to a seperate area that the others can't access. We lock them up for a few days, to make sure they are going to stay put, before trusting them to continue setting.

A good mother will stay with her babies for 6 weeks or so. My hens have always started laying a week or so before leaving the little ones. When I see the babies waiting outside a house while momma is inside on a nest, I know they will be on their own in a few days.

Matt

None of the last haf dozen mothers has stayed with her chicks much past three weeks of age. I am wondering if warmer weather conditions may shorten the time they continue to care for their chicks. The chicks seem to do fine, even with mom deciding to re-join the flock.​

 

[ams3651]

i had read to give her at least a week or two of broodiness before giving her eggs ready to hatch or even slipping day old chicks under her during the night and there is a good chance she will be satisfied and accept them. Keep in mind eggs hatched under a broody may be as much as 3 days later than eggs in an incubator. I dont know much about it but maybe it would be better to wait till they hatch if they are so close.

 

[FrenchHen]

I got lucky with mine. She'd been broody for just a few days when I gave her eggs from the incubator. She hatched them four days later and pecked the snot out of my hand today when I grabbed a chick.

So you might be fine!
Chickens are weird.

 

[CheerfulHeart2]

It must be the season. Two of my black australorps are acting broody. One is more diligent that the others. It is over 105 here, but she still sits in the nest. I took her out tonight and blocked her from getting back in, but she sat next to it. It is so hot here...and going to get hotter. It has just been 2 days so we'll see. I might need to track some eggs down for here, though I don't really want any more layers right now. We'll see.