My Sydney sat on eggs in the dead of summer 80 to 90 degrees every day. While she may have gotten off and stayed off a little longer on really hot days, she knew what to to do keep them the perfect temp. She had a 100% hatch rate the first time out. Trust your hen to know her business.
@RebeccaBoyd this info may helpGet a LG Coffee, this is a long one------- I may have to open the thread on Raising Baby Chicks,,,,I hope you can follow this,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
I am not finding much on tending to broody, setting hens, I am winging it.
I have a small Welsummer that wanted to be broody last February but I didnt want chicks yet, but in May she was broody again so I said ok, you can sit on eggs.
On the 23rd I let her have 2 of the strongest, dark brown shelled eggs, on the 24th I gave her 2 more. Well on the 25th she broke one23rd's so I gave her on of the 25th's. so she had 4 eggs, She sat for a week, on the 30st I candled them and could see thickening,,, Well she then broke another one of the 23rd's, then another hen tried to move in and stepped on one of the 24th's Then she got off the nest for several hours, the 2 eggs left got cold and and I figured, ok this is over. that night she wanted to sleep in the nest, I left her.
On the 31st, she was more serious, So I gave her another chance I gave her the whole days eggs, 7 of them. I gave her a bigger box with nesting stuff in it, left a flap I could close so the other hens would leave her alone, She was fine, more serious / committed to the task. At night I closed the flap.
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2 days later another hen went broody, OK,,,,,,
So I watched her#2, set on the days eggs from the 1st--- and at bed time, I let her set in the box with Broody#1 and gave her 2 eggs, and I put the "timeout cage " around them so the other hens would not push them off the nest. the other hens are much bigger than Broody#1.
Now, off and on for 6 days I would go in and have Broody #1 & #2 get off, drink and poop and eat,, we established a routine, #1 would drink, dig, eat, drink, poop, shake all her feathers vigorously, drink and jump up on the roost and groom herself, after about 5min I put her back on the nest. #2 she didnt poop for 3 days, she drank, ate a small bit, fluffed and I put her back.
One morning I found that #2 had in the night taken all but 2 of the eggs and pushed them under herself. No, I didnt want her to take all the eggs, so I gave her her own box, the smaller HD box, I didnt want fighting and broken eggs.
The rest of the flock harasses and runs after the broody hens, So for their protection I shut the door when I let them off the nest to eat. When #2 would get off the nest to eat she didnt seriously want to go back right away, I was worried she would let her 2 eggs get cold. So while she was out I put the 2 eggs under #1.
I dont let #1 out in the run, I put her right back on her nest with all 7 eggs, then I open the door and if #2 wants to run around she can , but the other chickens dont bother her as bad as they do #1. When she is done running around she gets in her nest with one of the fresh eggs.
Tuesday the 6th I knew we were going have a very hot day on Wednesday so I gave #1 a different nest, her own water and food, this way she can get up and down all she wants.
So to keep #2 broody she has one egg. Tuesday , I gave her one of the 31st's, and then when one of the hens laid an egg I took the 31st back, put it back under broody#1 and gave #2 the fresh egg, she was happy cuz she had an egg. And I did the same yesterday.
I know this is long and confusing
OK so, here we are today right now,
#1 is in her nest with all 7 eggs from the 31st ----#2 is on her nest with one egg from yesterday.
Also, When #1 gets off her nest Rooster hollers at me???????
I am going out to see if #2 has taken herself off the nest-- if #1 has gotten up to eat and poop ,, I doubt if they have its only 51 out.
At this point, the 7 eggs are 8 days old, #1 broody hen is on her own. When I go out I check to make sure all her eggs are tucked in, #1 knows what she is doing, I dont know if it may is safe giving #2 3 of the eggs from the 31st,,, We'll see haw the rest of the week goes. During the day I have to keep the other hens out of #2's nest - that's why she has only one fresh egg,,, I am not sure what to do next at this point...........
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@pennyJo1960
In my experience Mom is not to be messed with but it is good to keep an eye on them. You may even have a rooster who works as a real Dad and watches the chicks while Mom take a dust bath. I have heard of such things.
Yep I woke to the sounds of a nice steady rain! I think it might have stopped, not sure yet.
We went to the Suquamish museum today and the stopped at the seafood market. It’s still misting out
It’s full on raining here!
with a blanket 
its not a warm 50.
