How long sgould a broody hen be off the nest?

[peafowl_Lover]

Hi, my hen is broody and has 4 eggs under her, we're on day 3. Every morning she gets up and leaves for a while, I get nervous as she doesn't cone back. So after 10 minutes I pick her up and bring her back to her eggs. Then she sits for the rest of the day. Is this enough time off the nest?

 

[KtheChickenGal]

Hi, my hen is broody and has 4 eggs under her, we're on day 3. Every morning she gets up and leaves for a while, I get nervous as she doesn't cone back. So after 10 minutes I pick her up and bring her back to her eggs. Then she sits for the rest of the day. Is this enough time off the nest?

My broody hens have been very reluctant to leave at all, and then when they did, they only stayed off for about 5-10 minutes.
What breed is your hen? Has she been broody before?

 

[KtheChickenGal]

And some hens don't leave for days, others will get up more often, some are up for an hour, others for a few minutes.
If you don't put her back, will she eventually go back in her own? I would trust her instincts as long as she doesn't abandon.

 

[DemeterAD9]

If it’s warm where you are I really wouldn’t worry if she’s off for half an hour. I’ve seen my first broody (bantam) stay off just long enough to grab a drink, some food and start a fight with another hen before returning to her nest. My second broody I hardly ever catch off her nest.

 

[peafowl_Lover]

My broody hens have been very reluctant to leave at all, and then when they did, they only stayed off for about 5-10 minutes.
What breed is your hen? Has she been broody before?

Yes she has been broody before but never was allowed to hatch chicks.

And some hens don't leave for days, others will get up more often, some are up for an hour, others for a few minutes.
If you don't put her back, will she eventually go back in her own? I would trust her instincts as long as she doesn't abandon.

Yes I'll give her longer to see if she goes back herself.

If it’s warm where you are I really wouldn’t worry if she’s off for half an hour. I’ve seen my first broody (bantam) stay off just long enough to grab a drink, some food and start a fight with another hen before returning to her nest. My second broody I hardly ever catch off her nest.

It was very warm for 2 months, now it's stormy and a bit chilly. When I let them out in the morning she's off the nest but never leaves till the next day.

 

[Perris]

Just to say, I've had two broodies prone to be off the nest for up to 4 hours in the first week of incubation, with no ill effects on the clutch. Others just dash off for least time possible to perform what they need to do. Somehow or other it all seems to work. My advice is to trust her instincts, and try to relax. She's probably got this, and she certainly knows more about it instinctively than we ever will.

 

[peafowl_Lover]

I'm really excited it's my first time hatching chicks with a broody. If they don't hatch I'll buy her chicks.

 

[Perris]

It's a wonderful experience; enjoy

 

[FunnyBunny89]

Yes, I second the notion to trust the hen. My first broody girl was broody when we were still getting very cold days, and she would leave the nest for anywhere between 10 minutes to an hour, and she was able to hatch just fine. I have read that hens can be off the nest for up to 24 hours and eggs can still survive, so I think we underestimate the process.

 

[Ridgerunner]

I've had a broody hen come off of the nest twice for over an hour each time. I had one come off every morning around 9:00 and stay off for only 15 minutes. I've had several that I never saw off of the nest but I knew they were coming off sometime because they were not pooping in the nest. All of these had good hatches and did a good job of raising the chicks.

You can keep doing what you are if you want to as long as it is working. It sounds like it is so far. Or you can stop and see what happens. It will be a change so you should pay attention. She may now expect you to put her back.