Tomorrow is day 20. Would it be bad to peek under my broody?

[naturemom]

I have a broody hen sitting on 5 eggs in the coop with the other girls. I was originally thinking today I would put up a little fence to keep the other hens out of that nestbox. but doing so would mean she could not get out if she wanted to. So far I haven't heard any peeping and she got off the nest today to eat/drink/poop, so I think it's a good thing I didn't put up a barrier yet. I do want to protect any babies that hatch, though. So I'm trying to keep an eye on things so I can do it if/when something starts happening.
Would something awful happen if I lift her up tomorrow and the next day to take a quick look for pips? They were shipped eggs and I'm not sure if any will hatch at all. I've candled them a couple of times, but it was hard to see anything. They're Easter eggers. I think 2 are clear, one might be developing, and 2 were too dark to tell. I don't want to confine Lucy in the nestbox if nothing's going to hatch. Help!

 

[willowcol]

My broody would peck me til I got away, lol. I would be careful that close to hatch, but thats just me.

 

[naturemom]

She's never pecked me so far. When my SLW was broody last year we couldn't get near her without gloves, but this ones just fluffs up and makes that squeaky broody noise. I just don't want to spoil any chances of these eggs hatching.

 

[pbjmaker]

I would leave her alone. That would be like opening the incubator on day 20

 

[RioLindoAz]

If she desn't go crazy when you put your hand in front of her, you can gently lift her. DO NOT PICK HER UP! She will make a large fuss and try to get out of your grip. She'll either fall head first into the nest of flip backward. Just gently slip your hand under her and lift her a bit do the you can see the eggs. Do not lift her to high. Her feet should never dangle in the air. Your limit is when her thigh and her leg are at a 90* angle.



~Rio

 

[Judy]

No reason to pick her up that I can see. You no doubt know the chicks do not need food/water for 2-3 days. Why disturb her, thus changing the environment under her? If/when any hatch, you should hear their chirping, or see them peeking out from under her. I would not disturb her unless I saw evidence she was killing them, or some similar disaster. It is true that there is a possibility that the other hens will attack the chicks (mine did not; they helped with the mothering!) but if she is a good mother, she will protect them.

I would let nature take its course.

 

[naturemom]

I took a quick peek under her this morning, and saw a pip! My concern about confining her to the nestbox was more for her sake than the babies, because I was not feeling confident that any would hatch and didn't want to shut her in on Thursday and then have her in there for several days to see if anything hatched. She did still go out for her morning stroll, but much shorter than usual, and no afternoon one, and when I went to lock them in at dusk I heard peeping! I did put up a barrier because the biggest hen insists on always laying in that nestbox, even the whole time Lucy has been broody, and was trying to get in there this morning.
At bedtime, my dd said it was going to be hard to sleep tonight, but then added that if we had something like this happening every day, she would never have a bad dream again!

 

[willowcol]

Aww thats so sweet, glad you have pips and peeps. Easter babies, yeah!!!

 

[naturemom]

We checked this morning and there is a tiny black chick! Another egg is pipped but it's pipped at the wrong end and I think it's dead, nothing happening with the other 3 eggs, but I'm happy we have one.
Today is my birthday. What a gift!

 

[SunnyChic]

Quote:
What a great birthday present! Congrats!