How long should a broody hen be off the nest to eat and drink?

[Germaine_11.20]

I have a broody! I think... She has sat for 2 days now and I tucked some eggs under her last night. This morning I went out and some of the eggs were not being covered so I removed them (she is a banty)
About an hour later when I was feeding everyone, I looked and she was off the eggs. She was outside eating and roaming for about half and hour. Then I watched her go in and try to make the BR get off the eggs she had been on. The BR wasn't having any of that.
So I put an egg in the nest box next to the BR and the broody cochin jumped in and has been in there since.
Is this normal? Should she be off that long and the eggs still be good? I thought you had to make broodies eat and drink?

 

[usschicago1]

Thats why its good to seperate them in a dog crate or something. When the other chickens go to lay, the eggs are going to get cold, distractions ext. If these are expensive eggs i would block of that nest. Feed and water her bye hand. If they are not, i would seperate her in a dog crate or seperate house, let her settle down, and start again.
But yeah a half and hour is too long, it probably didnt kill them, but it it keeps happingi it will.
Good Luck!

 

[kk454]

My poor broody decided that early January in Montana is a good time to set. We put her in a dog crate, and I let her out for 15 minutes in the mornings. (By let her out, I mean I physically make her get off the eggs.) I have been heating up a cloth bag with a couple lbs of rice in it to 101 degrees in the microwave and setting it over the eggs when she is off to keep the eggs warm. Our temps are cold enough I am afraid that even 10 minutes off will cool the eggs too much. This is my first try using this method, but I think it will work. Good luck!

 

[Germaine_11.20]

Oh that is what I was afraid of. If it was warmer then the 1/2 off would be ok? And is that normal?

 

[Sir Birdaholic]

I had 3 Barred Rocks hatch & raise chicks together. All 3 crowded into the same nest together. Talk about some well protected chicks!

 

[Germaine_11.20]

Now that would be a sight to behold!