Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[NysiaAnera]

I candled one of my broodys eggs and its internally pipped! That mean the rest are soon to follow! I blocked her in the box as I don't want chicks falling out and her leaving the nest until i move her i have wire blocking her from leaving even though she wouldnt but ive had chicks fall out before

I do the same thing, I call it the "Maternity Screen". It is so sad to lose chicks because they fall out and can't get back to momma.

 

[Poultrybonkers]

I do the same thing, I call it the "Maternity Screen". It is so sad to lose chicks because they fall out and can't get back to momma.

Mine are the opposite...if a chick falls out she sit on that one outside the nest while the eggs get cold

 

[NysiaAnera]

Mine are the opposite...if a chick falls out she sit on that one outside the nest while the eggs get cold

I have had it both ways. Usually, they do like you said, and go out after whoever falls out and try to get them back into the nest. If that doesn't work, they will leave the eggs. Usually in the panic, at least one egg will get stepped on too.

 

[AnneInTheBurbs]

@Fisherlady. My broody is being so good, but I'm a little concerned, because I don't think she's been off the nest for a day or two. Should I take her out once or twice a week to make sure she is eating and drinking? She is stuck so tight to that nest, and she will be there for another 27 days, and I don't want her to be ill or die.

My other brokdies beforehand took a field trip at least once a day, it seemed.

 

[Molpet]

one of mine went off the nest every 3 days, another every other... they know what is best for the eggs...God/instincts tells them what to do

 

[Violetsfeathers]

@Fisherlady. My broody is being so good, but I'm a little concerned, because I don't think she's been off the nest for a day or two. Should I take her out once or twice a week to make sure she is eating and drinking? She is stuck so tight to that nest, and she will be there for another 27 days, and I don't want her to be ill or die.

My other brokdies beforehand took a field trip at least once a day, it seemed.

I have a broody that is waiting for real eggs so I take her off the nest to make sure she eats and drinks and get excercise and then she always goes right back to the nest. If you are worried about it it won't hurt the eggs for a hen to be gone more than an hour. It would be good for your hen to get excersise at least once a day.

One of my broody hen accidentally got locked outside her nest and couldn't get to her four eggs for two hours or more. It was winter too. All four eggs hatched though.

 

[fisherlady]

@Fisherlady. My broody is being so good, but I'm a little concerned, because I don't think she's been off the nest for a day or two. Should I take her out once or twice a week to make sure she is eating and drinking? She is stuck so tight to that nest, and she will be there for another 27 days, and I don't want her to be ill or die.

My other brokdies beforehand took a field trip at least once a day, it seemed.

I rarely interfere, though we did with a hen who decided to do her first sit at 4 years old! She went three days or so when I decided to get her out and she had trouble walking, so we got her out a couple more times and then she figured it out and did it on her own after that. They are pretty sneaky. If you do decide to get her out watch her for balance and mobility. If it looks good I would bet she is sneaking out unnoticed. Have water and a tasty treat ready when you get her out....if she is in an area by herself you can set a flour or sand trap around her food or water dish....just put a very smooth thin layer around the dishes and scatter some scratch on it...if she gets out you will see her tracks.

 

[AnneInTheBurbs]

one of mine went off the nest every 3 days, another every other... they know what is best for the eggs...God/instincts  tells them what to do

@Fisherlady. My broody is being so good, but I'm a little concerned, because I don't think she's been off the nest for a day or two. Should I take her out once or twice a week to make sure she is eating and drinking? She is stuck so tight to that nest, and she will be there for another 27 days, and I don't want her to be ill or die.

My other brokdies beforehand took a field trip at least once a day, it seemed.

I have a broody that is waiting for real eggs so I take her off the nest to make sure she eats and drinks and get excercise and then she always goes right back to the nest. If you are worried about it it won't hurt the eggs for a hen to be gone more than an hour. It would be good for your hen to get excersise at least once a day.

One of my broody hen accidentally got locked outside her nest and couldn't get to her four eggs for two hours or more. It was winter too. All four eggs hatched though.

@Fisherlady. My broody is being so good, but I'm a little concerned, because I don't think she's been off the nest for a day or two. Should I take her out once or twice a week to make sure she is eating and drinking? She is stuck so tight to that nest, and she will be there for another 27 days, and I don't want her to be ill or die.

My other brokdies beforehand took a field trip at least once a day, it seemed.

I rarely interfere, though we did with a hen who decided to do her first sit at 4 years old! She went three days or so when I decided to get her out and she had trouble walking, so we got her out a couple more times and then she figured it out and did it on her own after that. They are pretty sneaky. If you do decide to get her out watch her for balance and mobility. If it looks good I would bet she is sneaking out unnoticed. Have water and a tasty treat ready when you get her out....if she is in an area by herself you can set a flour or sand trap around her food or water dish....just put a very smooth thin layer around the dishes and scatter some scratch on it...if she gets out you will see her tracks.

Thanks guys. I did kick her off the nest the other day, before she got her eggs. She screamed SO loud I'm afraid to do it again for fear that the neighbors will think there's a murder being committed. I'll just keep an eye on her. There is a good chance she has gotten off the nest, as I am at work all day, and on the weekend I don't just stare at my chickens all the time. Just sometimes...

She looks so funny though! She is squished down so low I can't even see here eyes, her little fluffy cheeks / earmuffs are covering them. I have to check to morrow to make sure she only has the turkey eggs under her. Hopefully I won't lose a finger.

 

[NysiaAnera]

Thanks guys. I did kick her off the nest the other day, before she got her eggs. She screamed SO loud I'm afraid to do it again for fear that the neighbors will think there's a murder being committed. I'll just keep an eye on her. There is a good chance she has gotten off the nest, as I am at work all day, and on the weekend I don't just stare at my chickens all the time. Just sometimes...

She looks so funny though! She is squished down so low I can't even see here eyes, her little fluffy cheeks / earmuffs are covering them. I have to check to morrow to make sure she only has the turkey eggs under her. Hopefully I won't lose a finger.

My bet is that she is getting off the nest when you are not watching. I did have one young new broody who did not get off for over a week. I was out constantly checking. I was sure she must have been pooping in the nest. Finally one day I forced her off, and sure enough, the nest was nasty. She kept that up the whole time, and ended up with only 4 hatching. One other would get off every 3-4 days. The rest have all gotten off either every day, or every other day. Sometimes when I think they are not, I go out at an unexpected time of day, and sure enough, they will be off the nest.

 

[Poultrybonkers]

My broody hatched three out of 8 eggs...she started leaving the nest so I put the remaning eggs in my bator...theres 3/5 hatched and the last two pipped ill be giving her the rest when the last egg hatches