She left the nest?

[cnj-tx50]

I have a Std. Cochin that went broody so I let her and added some of the EE eggs to her. She had eight eggs. I let her set a week ago. I put food and water in front of her and she seemed good. This morning she was on the nest and when I went to check her at 4:00 she was off. Eggs don't feel warm and there is a new one in the nest - I marked the ones to hatch. Is someting wrong or will she return? If not then what? How long will the eggs be ok?

 

[Brindlebtch]

When one of my girls go broody I put a cat carrier in front of the nest box so the other hens can't force her off the nest to lay. I had one that was finally chased of the nest like that and I lost a lot of eggs.

I don't know how long the eggs will be OK or if she will go back to them, but next time try to protect her so she doesn't get hassled and she will probably stick to the nest.

 

[cnj-tx50]

I just went back out to take water out and she is back in the nest. I left the egg that was laid I am assuming today. I am pretty sure that it was not hers. I am thinking that I know who pushed her out and it is her egg. So will the eggs still be ok? They seemed cool to me but I am not sure. Also I have a extra large dog crate that I am thinking I should move her into until the Broody house and yard is finished. So how would I do that? Wait until night and have a nest already ready for her?

 

[dinahmoe]

i have a broody now and she did the same thing.she got off to eat and drink and when she went back there was someone in her spot so she set on another nest.the eggs were cold but i put her back on(she had been on 10 day)and candled that night and they were all alive and kicking.i have to watch her because she gets off everyday to eat and drink and some tries to steal it and lays an egg.she is now almost thru but next time i will probably move her to a crate.

 

[pdsavage]

I would take the new egg off...

 

[cnj-tx50]

Thanks! I will remove the unmarked egg. She even seemed to notice something different when she got back in the nest. As to how to move her? Any ideas?

 

[Kittymomma]

Take the new egg out. It will start to develop, but die when she abandons the nest to care for the hatched chicks.

Don't worry too much about the eggs that got cold. I had duck eggs under a broody BA and she got back on the wrong nest after her daily constitunial. The eggs were stone cold, not just cool to the touch when I got home and found them. Out of the 11 eggs I'd given her she hatched out 9 healthy ducklings. One of the eggs had quit early (like sometime in the first week well before they ever got cold) and one started to zip and died in the shell which was sad, but all-in-all I was very pleased with the hatch so don't give up on yours.

 

[cnj-tx50]

Thanks Kittymomma - should I still move her?

 

[Kittymomma]

Quote:
The only way I've ever had any sucess moving a broody that has already started incubating the eggs is when I've done it at night. I get the new spot ready and then take the hen off the nest and tuck her head under a wing to keep her calm. I then hand her off to my dd and carefully gather the eggs up. I place the eggs in the new nest and put the broody on top of them. After that I cover the whole thing up (usually a lg. dog crate or 20 gal garbage can on its side) with a towel or old blanket and leave it covered until late morning/early afternoon the next day. By the time I uncover her she is back to being deep in the broody trance and all is well. You do need to make sure she can't get too far away from the new nest site though because sometimes they get confused (see my prev. post) and will go back to the original nest after their food and potty break.

Good luck. Broody hens rock!!

 

[cnj-tx50]

Well of course it had to start pouring rain as soon as I start thinking of moving her. Maybe it will let up - but we do need it! Thanks so much for all your advice. I am new at these girls going broody and the first few days I was kicking her out of the boxes and hen house. Then the rooster decided that I really needed to let her do this thing. So DH and I am trying to build a little house just for broody girls and their babies, but until then I am winging it! So thanks! I know where to go now!