Is it time for Broody Tag-Team?

[Island Roo]

My broody hen (less than a year old) has been sitting on 8 eggs for 11 days. She shares the broody coop with anther broody on other eggs.

Yesterday she was sitting on the floor - away from her eggs. I nudged her back into the nest. She yelled at me but went reluctantly. Same thing again today. Both times the eggs were not cold but cooler than they should be.


The question is this: should I give up on this hen and put another broody in her place? She's not supposed to take breaks like this is she?

 

[loveourbirds]

was she off her nest because she thought it was feeding time? they do get off the nests for a few minutes each day, if the weather is warm they will sometimes stay off of it for a while.

 

[Island Roo]

I waited about 1/2 hour before i nudged her back in. Not to warm here - maybe 60

 

[loveourbirds]

at 60 degrees she can probably leave the nest safely for 1/2 hour to 45 mins. I'm not 100% sure this works, but if you don't have any sorghum in your feed, add some. seeds are best, sweet horse will work. this increases progesterone (the sitting hormone)