is there a way to tell when your hen goes into "lockdown"?

[elmo]

Let me see if I understand what you're asking. You're not sure when she started incubation, so you're not sure about when the 21 days is up? You're looking for the sign when the broody stays on the nest continuously without coming off for food/water/pooping, a day or two right before hatch?

 

[Vanessabuffsnsilkies]

Quote:
I was going to ask a similar question. My hen is at day 18 today and she was out to eat and poop and now she's back in there... since lockdown in a bator is day 18, do they just stay in like a "lockdown" in an incubator?

 

[toyzbox]

That is what I was wondering too. I've got an EE and a BO at day 22. The EE was off yesterday for a bit but I have "never" seen the BO out of the nest box.
Is it too late to move them to the mama pen? I tried that with the BO last time and she rejected the eggs that very day.

 

[Sunny Side Up]

All the broody hens I've had here seem to want to stay on the nest all day once the chicks begin to hatch. They may also have other days when they don't leave the nest, but usually they get off at least once a day until that last day. I've even seen them eating the membranes from the eggs that have have hatched, but they don't get off the nest to take care of their own needs.

I usually try to have my broodies confined to their own pen so they're not bothered by other hens interrupting them throughout their set. I've never had a broody hatch chicks in a place where other hens could get to them. I suggest you try to move your hen & her eggs before they hatch. It's best if you can move the whole nest box, if not just try to make it a smooth & seamless transition as much as you can. It's ideal to do it well after dark, and shade the new location with towels or feed sacks to keep it dim until you're sure she's settled.