My first broody hen

[sylviethecochin]

I persnally wouldnt break her, but let her hatch them inside

Depending on the OP's setup, that could be a lot of hassle, though.

I personally would prefer not to have an adult hen in my living room with her chicks, spreading dander everywhere. (I have allergies. Headache, blow nose every five minutes, sneeze my own throat raw allergies. Technically, they're 'mild.')

Of course, it's up to the OP, who knows her(?) own situation best. I'm just advising what would be the best course of action for me.

 

[Shorty22366]

I would let her hatch them and keep a close eye on her and them. I don't hatch in winter but I have silkies that are broody all the time. If you decide to hatch be prepared to bring chicks in to a broody box if hen is to young to know what she is suppose to do.

 

[Matilda Belle]

I persnally wouldnt break her, but let her hatch them inside

I would love to, but my husband won't let me bring them inside.

How do you break her of her broodiness is what I meant to ask in my last post.

 

[Matilda Belle]

So, let's say I was able to convince hubby to let me bring them in, let's go back to my other question about fertile eggs. Obviously she's not going to have any fertile eggs since she's not leaving the nest. Would I just swap out her infertile eggs for the other hens' fertile ones? Would that stress her to bother her so much with that?

 

[Shorty22366]

So, let's say I was able to convince hubby to let me bring them in, let's go back to my other question about fertile eggs. Obviously she's not going to have any fertile eggs since she's not leaving the nest. Would I just swap out her infertile eggs for the other hens' fertile ones? Would that stress her to bother her so much with that?

You could candle her eggs and if they aren't fertile replace them with fertile eggs. Change the eggs out at night while she is sleeping.

 

[sylviethecochin]

So, let's say I was able to convince hubby to let me bring them in, let's go back to my other question about fertile eggs. Obviously she's not going to have any fertile eggs since she's not leaving the nest. Would I just swap out her infertile eggs for the other hens' fertile ones? Would that stress her to bother her so much with that?

If she's laid eggs and you have a rooster, they're probably fertile. Chickens can store sperm for up to thirty days.

 

[littleprairieheartsfarm]

So, let's say I was able to convince hubby to let me bring them in, let's go back to my other question about fertile eggs. Obviously she's not going to have any fertile eggs since she's not leaving the nest. Would I just swap out her infertile eggs for the other hens' fertile ones? Would that stress her to bother her so much with that?

How long has she been sitting? The hen if she is truly broody, won’t lay anymore eggs. Hens can hold sperm from a rooster for more than two weeks but the fertility goes down the longer they aren’t being fertilized.

 

[Matilda Belle]

If she's laid eggs and you have a rooster, they're probably fertile. Chickens can store sperm for up to thirty days.

They can't be fertile if she's not getting out of the nest to make the eggs fertile.

 

[littleprairieheartsfarm]

They can't be fertile if she's not getting out of the nest to make the eggs fertile.

When a rooster mates a hen, she will purposely store the sperm within her own body to fertilize the eggs being made. It is entirely possible for the eggs to be fertile within the set period of time.

 

[Matilda Belle]

How long has she been sitting? The hen if she is truly broody, won’t lay anymore eggs. Hens can hold sperm from a rooster for more than two weeks but the fertility goes down the longer they aren’t being fertilized.

She's been sitting a little over 24 hours now.

I had no idea that the hens can hold sperm for two weeks! Wow. I guess I learn something new every day!