Placing fertile eggs under a hen that's already been broody for two weeks?

[Ashleybess]

Our golden-laced polish hen has been broody for a week or two now. She was sitting in the favored laying box of the flock for several days and then suddenly the next time we checked was in another unused box. I told my husband her eggs probably weren't fertile as our more mature roo was killed by a predator a month or so ago and our two silkie roos are still quite young. Well, he took all but two of her eggs from her last night while I was gone. I didn't protest much when I got home because, well, I figured it was a futile venture for her anyway. Well, he cracked one this morning for breakfast and got a sad surprise - there was a developing chick in it I put a few more eggs back under her but I had no idea which in the basket were hers. I looked at all of then with a flashlight and there didn't *appear * to be any more baby chicks inside any of them.

I asked a friend with several mature roos if I could get a few eggs from her to place under my girl. My question is this - will she continue to be broody for long enough to batch these new eggs, considering she's already been broody for close to two weeks (I think)?

 

[Susan12]

My answer is maybe.some of my bantams would sit forever.some hens aren't that dedicated.

 

[Kiki]

I don't think it is a good idea for her to sit for 3 more weeks after already sitting for 2.
She is going to end up in bad shape with not eating well and such.
Probably best if you do not put eggs under her and try to break the broodiness instead.

 

[JedJackson]

I agree with KikisGirls. Five weeks is just too long. It takes a lot out of a hen to set for the normal three weeks. Plus Polish are classed as non-sitters. The chances of her staying on the nest that long are probably slim.

 

[Shadrach]

It's not a good idea imo. The first two days maybe. The problem is the hen will want to get her chicks out of the nest within the first 48 hours of the first hatching usually. For those 48 hours there is enough egg yolk to keep the chicks fed. After that they need to look for food. Even if the mum did stay sat on the eggs untilthe egg you put under her hatched this would delay the development of the original hatchings, possibly result in some dying.

 

[WVduckchick]

Do you have an incubator where you could finish the eggs if she gives up?

 

[EggSighted4Life]

My question is this - will she continue to be broody for long enough to batch these new eggs, considering she's already been broody for close to two weeks (I think)?

First I would say... NEVER try to eat an egg that has been incubated for two weeks! Aside from the possibility of being disgusted by development... the nutrition has been depleted at that temp quite a bit and egg quality declined... just DON'T put them in your egg basket if they were allowed to be sat on. I feed mine back to the animals... boiled whole then smashed or scrambled.

Next... Some hens WILL sit that long or even longer until nothing hatches... Some will brood themselves all the way until death! I don't personally want ANY of my hens sitting for 5 weeks... it's really taxing on their body and they become targets for parasites and such... Especially if the hen is actually a pullet... they aren't yet fully filled in to their mature adult size. They are still gaining muscle and such so sitting with nutrition slowed way down just isn't ideal.

What I would do... is break her now... and plan ahead for the next time she goes broody... Maybe teach the hub how to use a flashlight BEFORE collecting.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

She was sitting in the favored laying box of the flock for several days and then suddenly the next time we checked was in another unused box.

To me... nest hopping is a sign of immaturity, undedicatedness, possible flock dynamics like someone else being in her nest when she returned from stretching or eating, or shear dumbness.

I have had hens go to the wrong nest.. with their own being full of developed and fertile eggs... Sometimes... a hen can sense and kick out a bad egg or such... other times, they simply aren't the brightest color in the Crayola box!

 

[WVduckchick]

I won't say its healthy for a hen to do such a thing, but I have had hens sit that long with no problem. I'm not necessarily suggesting it, but with proper care, I know it can be done. Chances are good that she may give up before hatch, or depending on her devotion, she may need to be persuaded to stop later, which is why I asked about an incubator.

 

[mixedbreeds]

I have had them sit that long with no problem as long as they are taking care of them selves like eating and drinking every 2 to 3 days but 5 weeks is about it. The nest hopping does not sound good though as mentioned it sounds like immaturity so I would wait and try next time she is broody.