How Long Is Too Long (Broody Hens)?

[EmilyRobb]

My hens have been very good at laying fertile eggs for me to incubate, and obviously they've been very good at being broody as they're cochins. However, I've let one hen be broody for over 21 days as this point, I think it's close to 26 days now. Her head feathers were getting pulled by the rooster and I can't seperate him at the moment so I saw this as kind of a break for her. Should I break her brooding habit now, or am I able to let her have a break? I've noticed that her feathers have regrown a fair amount in the days that she's been broody.

The birds are also for exhibition, so I don't want their feathers or follicles that produce feathers do get damaged at all. The feathers have been growing back but I don't want more pulling to equal more damage; that would deem their show quality as non existant really

 

[50-45-1]

You should not allow or prolong broodiness in hens if there is no egg incubation in the plan.
Broody hens go thru a extended period of fever, physical inactivity, food and water deprivation, risk to lice and mites as they do not dust bathe, just to name a few hardships to there bodies.
Break your broodies as soon as you see the behavior. its not a break or vacation. Its grueling and worsens there condition.
It also sounds like your set up is not ideal, if you are unable to separate birds that display feather issues for whatever reason.

 

[EmilyRobb]

@50-45-1 An expansion is in the works right now with various partitions and multiple pens. It just simply isn't suitable for animals right now. I'll work on breaking the broodiness as soon as I can. Do hens ever break broodiness in their own, aside from hatching their own eggs?

 

[Heffalump]

I agree with 50-45-1

Also broody hens pluck out their chest feathers to get their body heat directly on their eggs. I don't really see how you could let a hen stay broody and then show her with a naked chest...?

I've never broken a broody hen before though so I'm afraid i can't help you with that, although I do think it should be done asap.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Do hens ever break broodiness in their own, aside from hatching their own eggs?

She *should* break broodiness on her own soon, it'd essentially be the same if she had sat on eggs that were duds and never hatched. At some point, naturally, she should give up.

If she really won't quit then you'll need to try and break her, though it may be tough to do so since she's been so dedicated to setting.

In the future if you don't plan on hatching, break them immediately - it usually goes faster and there's less risk of losing body condition.

 

[Zan]

My Mom always said that a hen would set for 6 weeks before giving up. She had chickens her entire life, 70+ years. I don't know how long before they give up as I always give my broodies eggs to hatch. I do know they will set for 4 weeks, as you can use a hen to hatch duck eggs.

 

[aart]

I've let one hen be broody for over 21 days as this point, I think it's close to 26 days now.

She didn't have eggs to hatch?

 

[EmilyRobb]

@aart incubator was full so I let her sit on the extra eggs that were laid but I guess they're duds

 

[aart]

Might be too late but did you try to graft the bator chicks onto her?

 

[Scchicks213]

@aart incubator was full so I let her sit on the extra eggs that were laid but I guess they're duds

Have you candled any of them to see if there is life? You may have been off on the days?