? on letting broody keep eggs after consistently taking them

[rojororeo]

Okay, so I don't think I have seen this anywhere.

We have 2 one year old BO hens in a group of 14 hens and one rooster that have been going broody off and on all summer.
We had been lifting them off the nests and taking the eggs, figuring we have enough birds laying that if they aren't right now, it isn't a big deal, that they would just break the cycle after the allotted amount of time and stop,

But now we were thinking of letting one or both of them keep just a few eggs- 5-6 tops, to brood out.
I had plans to mark the eggs if I do it. That way I can keep collecting other eggs for us to store and eat. I am not too concerned with upsetting her, as she goes right back in the nest if I let her, so I figured I could even put her back on it after I take the possibly extra eggs from her.

But my question is this: If I have been consistently taking the eggs, what would that do to the day count for the hen to let her keep some now? Would they just keep sitting until some hatch, or would they stop at the proper date in their heads?

Does that make sense?

Thanks in advance!

 

[Tuhmu]

You really wont know unless you give it a try, some hens will give up on the exact day...others....not so much. I finally let my brahma hen hatch eggs this spring and she had been broody since November (hatched in may). No matter what I did she just wouldn't give it up.

 

[rojororeo]

You really wont know unless you give it a try, some hens will give up on the exact day...others....not so much. I finally let my brahma hen hatch eggs this spring and she had been broody since November (hatched in may). No matter what I did she just wouldn't give it up.

Thanks, that was a quick reply!
That is the same thing my husband and I said. Give it a go, and we are only out a few eggs if it didn't work. Hopefully none go rotten and get broken under her... yelch.
Did you handle her any at all during the brood time? I would like to be able to still take the non-brooding eggs from her. I wonder if I can keep a few EE eggs under her without her caring that they aren't hers? Get some variety out of the hatch. As it is the rooster is a Polish crested, so they will be interesting anyhow!

Thanks again!

 

[Tuhmu]

She will probably no care whose eggs they are, I've yet to see a hen that does. As far as handling, does she burst out of the nest box when you try and reach under her? If not, you should be fine with checking under her daily (other than her maybe trying to peck you and scare you off by growling...wear gloves), I wouldn't do much more handling than that though. What you should do is mark the eggs you want her to hatch with a crayon/pencil and remove any others that collect. (assuming she lets you look under her, after a while they usually get used to the routine and just put up a mild vocal protest

)

It's definitely important to take any excess eggs out though, otherwise you are going to have a mess when some start hatching weeks/days before others. Unless she is away from the rest of the flock, other eggs WILL collect in there. The other hens are horrible "enablers" lol, its usually a group effort.

With both of the broody hens I've had, I kept them with the flock but put a piece of chicken wire over the covering and would let her out in the morning and evenings. It seems to make her happy that the other hens aren't bothering her (mine has this gloating look on their beaks when the others were trying to find out how to get in) She will only be going out by herself 1-2 times a day max anyway.

 

[Tuhmu]

 

[rojororeo]

She doesn't burst out of the box when I put my hands in there for the eggs, she just gets all puffed up, glares at me and will on occasion peck me. I don't usually don't take them from under her, but move her 1st, so I guess I will start looking under her and hoping she doesn't leave the nest. I could move her and some eggs (or let her repopulate a new nest) into a dog crate to help her be alone. What are your thoughts on that?
Yes, that mess of the enablers is what I am worried about.
She never seems to return to the exact same nest, and is content to just sit on any of the 3, I think.
How does that work with the wire over her nest? She has enough space to live in there, food and water as well? Very cute how they just look out at you.

Thanks again!

 

[Tuhmu]

I tried putting food and water in with mine and they wouldn't really touch it, so they got their food and water when they came off the nest..which was usually for about 20 min or so, then they would hop back on a nest (usually the wrong one, I would just go back out after a half hour and move her) and back to staring into space.

Naturally a hen doesn't eat when she's on the nest, she takes care of that when she takes one of her breaks. Here's a little more info on the subject : here

 

[rojororeo]

Thanks again!

Sorry for the delay in replying. Husband got sick, then daughter, now me, of course.
I did start reaching under my 2 hens and handling the eggs so I can take the ones I don't want brooded out. Not much complaint from them, they don't hop up and run from me, so that is good.
I let them both have 3 eggs each, well marked.
I will be sure to put them back if they gets on the wrong nest. I have 2 broodies, and 3 nest boxes, so it shouldn't be too much.
I am contemplating putting one of them in a big dog crate I have. I have a bit of fear that if they do hatch, I might lose them to a predator bird, or they go through the fence and get killed by the dogs (not sure if they can fit, it is big hole chicken wire over goat wire), or one of our cats might get them- not sure here, the cats are friendly with the chickens, but do catch and eat wild birds)...

If I get anything out of it, they will certainly look interesting.
Dad is a Polish Crested, my hens are Barred Rock, BO, Speckled Sussex, EE, Partridge Pymouth rock, and a random black one, among a couple of others. I was sure to take the polish hen's egg, as I don't want any more pure polish chickens... poor things get so picked on being different with their crests.


Anyhoo! Thanks again!

 

[Audra9]

I have had several broodies this summer and use a similar method. I found that marking them with a crayon works ok, but keep it handy so you can re-mark as it wears off. I like to mark with the date, and a line around the entire egg so it is easy to see without turning. When you lift her to check for more eggs, feel between her wings and body first because she could be holding an egg there. After about the 14th day, it is a good idea to move her into another area (a dog crate should be just fine as long as it can be kept clean and dry). If you wait too long, a hatching chick is easily crushed by other laying hens (I learned this the hard way). They might even eat the baby!

Have fun with your chicks. I have many "mutt" chickens. Their markings can be surprising!

 

[Tuhmu]

I was sure to take the polish hen's egg, as I don't want any more pure polish chickens... poor things get so picked on being different with their crests.


Anyhoo! Thanks again!

I had this same problem and ended up giving away my polish, poor things always had bloody heads even when I put them with only polish.