Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[tick22]

I have a broody SS who has been sitting on the nest for 4 days-- her first time. Problem is, the last 2 days she's gotten off around noon for 2+ hours! Both days I thought she must not be going through with it, but then she's back on the nest not moving. I've read that some chickens leave for longer periods of time than the typical 5 or so minutes, but I don't know if those chickens always leave for longer times or just occasionally stay out for hours. She stays on all night, stays on through the other chickens being mad at her hogging the nest box they like and climbing in on top of her to lay, and she fluffs up her feathers and garbles at me when I get close, so those all seem like signs of sticking. She has water and food right outside her nest, but she still wants to leave and eat grass in the yard every day.

So far she's not on fertile eggs, but I have some and was planning to start her "officially" on Monday. I'm worried she won't be able to maintain the warmth if she keeps taking her frolic vacations. I moved her nest box tonight to an isolated place away from the rest of the flock, so we'll see if that helps. Other thoughts? Is this likely to work?

I had one of my broodies get off the nest for 3 hours and still hatched her eggs later. She did it one day, the rest of the time it was the normal off for 20 to 30 minutes then back on them. It was also summer, so the temps were warmer. -
Good luck and some how Broodies know what they are doing. We can only guess and hope....

 

[dretd]

I went in there and she's deep in broody trance... I couldn't even tempt her with some yummy morsels. Looks like she hasn't been off the nest at all today yet (the last 2 days she would have already done her 2+ hour forays in the yard)... no sign of poo in the broody box. So hopefully she's nice and comfy for the long haul!

Excellent news! Good luck with your hatch!

 

[bobbieschicks]

She's not laying. Unfortunately I don't have an incubator, so it's natural or nothing   I might slip a few chicks under her anyway b/c I want some cornish crosses for meat.
Only $1 each and I have 8, so I think I'll risk it. I'm in Western Oregon so it's cold at night but during the day is in the 50s.

She stayed on the newly moved nest in the shed all night. I peeked in through the window and saw her still in there. I'm giving her a little more time to get settled there before I actually open the door, but I'll need to go in this afternoon to get feed for the rest of the girls and then I'll check to see how she's doing. I'm hopeful the lack of disturbance from the others will help her settle. She's the lowest in the pecking order so that makes sense, right?

Sounds like it would be okay to go ahead. She will most likely hatch them fine. And 50F daytime temps would be okay to leave the eggs alone for a time.

 

[bobbieschicks]

The neatest thing to watch is the sizzling hot summer broody who hovers over her eggs rather than leave the nest. My two broodies would just stand wide legged over their nests during the hottest part of summer while hatching their clutches. Looked very uncomfortable to me.

 

[gg706]

My hen is definitely broody! I gave her 6 eggs. She has been sitting very well for 4 or 5 days. When she goes out for a small break one of the other hens sits on the eggs for her. When is a good time to check the eggs to see if there is growth?

 

[bobbieschicks]

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My hen is definitely broody!  I gave her 6 eggs. She has been sitting very well for 4 or 5 days. When she goes out for a small break one of the other hens sits on the eggs for her. When is a good time to check the eggs to see if there is growth?

I would check at night on day 7. If they are clear toss them. Otherwise I keep until after day 25. Then I toss the left behinds.

 

[R2elk]

I had one of my broodies get off the nest for 3 hours and still hatched her eggs later. She did it one day, the rest of the time it was the normal off for 20 to 30 minutes then back on them. It was also summer, so the temps were warmer. -
Good luck and some how Broodies know what they are doing. We can only guess and hope....

What poultry can get away with and still end up with a good hatch can be amazing. Last year I had a hen turkey set her nest and finally hatched out 8 of 11 eggs. She left the nest with those 8 chicks and went and picked a fight through the fence with my dog. While the hen and dog were fighting I rounded up her chicks and moved them to my brooder box.

After a couple of hours of listening to the dog and turkey fighting I finally chased the hen away from the dog pen. She spent the next four hours hunting all over the place for her missing chicks. Finally the hen returned to her nest and sat on the remaining three eggs.

The nest was in a well shaded area and it was a cool day. Those eggs were left unattended for at least 6 hours. Two days later she got off her nest with two more chicks for a total hatch of 10 out of 11 eggs. I also swiped those chicks from her and added them to the others already in the brooder.

If I tried to duplicate those conditions in the incubator I am sure I would have a failed hatch. Animals get away with things that we can't get away with.

 

[Johnn]

They still love each other :

 

[gg706]

Very nice pictures!
Thank You bobbies chicks for the info! i appreciate it....now I have to wait impatiently until day 7!

 

[elsfieldchickens]

They still love each other :

aww!