How long should a bantam cochin be allowed to be broody?

[tothemoon]

I have a bantam cochin who has been sitting on 3 eggs for a lil over 3 weeks and I just took them out from under her and they were dead. Poor lil things. She keeps sitting on the empty nest like the eggs are still there. Should I put some more eggs under her to let her sit for another 3 weeks or continue to try to break her broodiness?

 

[henney penny]

I`m no expert but form what I understand it takes a lot out of a broody they don`t eat or drink much while they are broody so I would try to break her,put her outside and close the pop door for a hour or so so she will at least eat and drink,thats what I done to mine and it broke her.I kept taking her out of the nest and closing the door and put food outside for her and she gave up after a day or so

 

[bobbi-j]

Can you go to a feed store or somewhere and get her some babies? Maybe slip them under her at night since you've already taken the eggs away. My broody's (also a bantam cochin) eggs didn't hatch after 24 days, so I bought her some babies to trade out for her dud eggs. I did it at night - took the eggs away, then put the babies in. She did still get after me when I took her eggs, but when she heard the babies peeping, she settled down, gathered them under her, and all was well. Good luck!

 

[tothemoon]

Aww, thats a sweet story bobbi-j, i wish i would have thought of it yesterday. I already took the eggs so I dont know if she would accept babies now, if I can find some babies I might do that, otherwise ill go with henney penny. Thanks for the help!

 

[Dipsy Doodle Doo]

Hi! I have a pen of Cochin and SilkiexCochin hens that will stay broody and hatch eggs for me all spring/summer/fall. I actually encourage it. They have a high sense of self-preservation and eat and drink well while they are broody. If I ever noticed a broody that didn't want to get off the nest regular, I'd be watching to make sure she stayed healthy.

Lisa