She doesn't seem to have made up her mind......

[I have WHAT in my yard?]

I had a hen who was being badly picked on by the flock so I decided to separate her for a while. Being alone seems to stress her so DH wondered how she would feel if we gave her some eggs and just saw if she would brood them..... So its been two days and she seems to be happy enough sitting on them, but she does get off them to eat and peck around. She's sitting on ten eggs and carefully tucks them back under herself when she settles. Is that close enough do you think?? Clearly we were taking a huge chance she would brood them, but how long off is too long? How many times a day off is too many?

 

[Enchanted Sunrise Farms]

i see my broodies hop off the nest at least twice a day, not for long periods of time, but enough to scratch and peck up some food. As it gets closer to hatch time, they tend to stay on longer, sometimes not getting up at all.

 

[I have WHAT in my yard?]

Thanks! Hopefully her poor parenting now won't effect the eggs!