Is it OK for a hen to be broody?

[cowtown chick]

I've had my 5 hens for a year now, only one of them is broody, she sits in the nesting box all day long. I havent seen her get out at all. The other hens go about their business, when i go to gather the eggs, she growls at me and tries to peck me. I can still get the eggs, and I dont mind, but is it OK for her to sit all day long. Should I try to get her out or just leave her alone? She's been doing this for several weeks now. When do they stop?

 

[Percheron chick]

The problem with broodies is they don't lay. Most will get off the nest and grab a bite but they can lose a significant amount of weight which will impact her ability to resume laying. The really cool part of having a broody is letting her raise chicks naturally. I have my first broody that I'm letting raise 3 chicks and it's simply amazing to watch her instincts. I'll probably let her raise all the chicks she wants to since she's a poor layer to start with (SLCochin). You have a choice of forcing the issue with her. Put her in a wire cage where she can't sit or give her some chicks.

 

[cowtown chick]

I dont see the need to put her in a cage seperately, i've got two other nesting boxes and am still getting enough eggs, i just wanted to make sure it was ok for her to do that all day, all night, doesnt seem to bother the other girls so i'll just let her sit i guess.

 

[youngturk-ey]

Its totally normal for a broody hen to do that.
Eventually she will get out to eat and drink and poop while she's at it. The best thing is to leave her alone because she is going to be a mother after all and hissing and pecking is just their way of protecting their eggs. Its their motherly insticts

 

[Dawns Funy Farm]

if she is not setting on hatching eggs i would break her of her broodiness so she dont loose alot of weight and can get weak ,she can and will set for months and thats not good for her i put mine in a wire bottom cage with food and water for a week then let her out if she goes back to setting back in the cage she goes again till she stops.

 

[donrae]

The problem is, with no eggs to hatch, her body has no way to know when she's done brooding. Brooding is hard on a bird physically and extended brooding can cause health issues.

 

[DLV58]

Hi, My Marans went broody 8 wks ago and stopped laying.
I moved her off the nest each day with the offer of treats.
She would eat and drink but would go right back on the nest.
Well this past week she has been off the nest and layed an egg yesterday and today,
so I guess it's over

 

[sniffyparrot507]

The problem with broodies is they don't lay. Most will get off the nest and grab a bite but they can lose a significant amount of weight which will impact her ability to resume laying. The really cool part of having a broody is letting her raise chicks naturally. I have my first broody that I'm letting raise 3 chicks and it's simply amazing to watch her instincts. I'll probably let her raise all the chicks she wants to since she's a poor layer to start with (SLCochin). You have a choice of forcing the issue with her. Put her in a wire cage where she can't sit or give her some chicks.

how long can they be broofy before you give em eggs too hatch?