I have several questions

[NeeCee51]

Hi Peeps, Hope you don't mind but I have several things that are bugging me about one of my hens. For about three weeks now she has been very agitated. I thought she was getting close to being broody. Then she was back to normal for a day or so then right back to being bitchy. Last week she sat on a nest for three days and there were two eggs under her. After that she came our and left the nest completely so I gathered all the eggs. The next day she started in again this time in a different nest and when I sent out today she's in the first nest she had been in. How long can she hen stay off the nest and the eggs still be OK? Should I put some of the other eggs under her from my other two hens? They have all been "loved" by the rooster so I guess they could be fertile. Is there a time limit I should just leave the eggs out there and not gather them? Sorry about all these questions but I would love to see babies the old fashion way. Thanks for any help..

 

[SunkenRoadFarms]

Broody hens usually take a daily break to eat, drink, and poop. It can be a short break or an hour or so. The eggs will be fine so long as she returns afterward.

 

[NeeCee51]

That's good. I did put food and water just outside the nesting box so she has food closer. Guess I'll just keep and eye on her and see what happens. Thanks so much...

 

[aart]

Is she staying on the nest all day and all night?
The food doesn't need to be too close, they need to get up and stretch a bit.
If she's truly broody it might be a good idea to put her in a single nest in a small area behind wire within the coop, then she won't get confused about which nest and will keep other birds from disturbing the nest when she's on her eatindrinkingpooping break.

 

[NeeCee51]

Hi Golden Feather, from what I can tell she is staying on it all day and night . When I go out to lock them up for the night she is in the nest box instead of the roost. I have an area under the roosts that I can put another nesting box. I use a poop board so she will not get pooped on and I can make her a good size area so she can get out to eat and drink. I will just put some fencing so the others can't get under there. It's always pretty clean under there so I think it will work well. I need to move her at night so she doesn't get stressed..is that correct? Thanks so much for the information..I'll let you know if this works out...

 

[aart]

Hi Golden Feather, from what I can tell she is staying on it all day and night . When I go out to lock them up for the night she is in the nest box instead of the roost. I have an area under the roosts that I can put another nesting box. I use a poop board so she will not get pooped on and I can make her a good size area so she can get out to eat and drink. I will just put some fencing so the others can't get under there. It's always pretty clean under there so I think it will work well. I need to move her at night so she doesn't get stressed..is that correct? Thanks so much for the information..I'll let you know if this works out...

No, she can stay on her nest inside the broody fence with her own food and water until a couple days after the chicks hatch.
She might be upset at first, best to give her a couple days to settle into the new nest in the new area then give her some fresh fertile eggs.

 

[NeeCee51]

OK. now I have two broody hens...my goodness this is stressful..LOL Now my question is since I have two of them can they be together or do I need to make another broody pen. Are they ok for a while? I mean till the babies hatch...Thanks

 

[NeeCee51]

Also, some of the eggs have been under them longer than others. Will they stay on the nest and keep hatching the rest of the eggs? Sorry about all the questions..Thanks