How long will broody sit after chicks arrive?

[m1marin]

We just introduced chicks to our broody last night and it has been going better than we could have hoped.

Right now mother and chicks are indoors inside a brooder together. Our grownup coop isn't chick friendly.

I was wondering how long the mother will continue sitting on her makeshift nest now that she has chicks.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

It depends on how long she was sitting before you adopted her babies partly. Might also depend on how many chicks and how ready she feels they are.

Right now she is clucking and they are peeping, getting to know each other's voices so they don't get separated.

I have had some hens come out within the first 2 days after hatch and others that took a good 10 days to get their chicks fully out of the box.

 

[m1marin]

It depends on how long she was sitting before you adopted her babies partly. Might also depend on how many chicks and how ready she feels they are.

Right now she is clucking and they are peeping, getting to know each other's voices so they don't get separated.

I have had some hens come out within the first 2 days after hatch and others that took a good 10 days to get their chicks fully out of the box.

Thanks @EggSighted4Life .

Just curious. How many days can a broody go without pooping? Ours is eating and drinking, but she's been holding everything in since the chicks arrived.

 

[mustangrooster]

Yep, they tend to do that. She'll poop when she really needs to, I dont know exactly how many days they can go for without pooping...but trust me, you'll know when she poops and which poop is hers. It will be.....large , dark, and it will stink. I've had broody chickens go for 3+ days without pooping.

Good luck with your chicks!

 

[m1marin]

Yep, they tend to do that. She'll poop when she really needs to, I dont know exactly how many days they can go for without pooping...but trust me, you'll know when she poops and which poop is hers. It will be.....large , dark, and it will stink. I've had broody chickens go for 3+ days without pooping.

Good luck with your chicks!

She just answered my question this morning - about 36 hours.

 

[chickengeorgeto]

I endorse everything that mustangrooster said about sitting hens and their bathroom habits.