What to do with a broody

[jonezjollyfarm]

I have a hen I think is broody. She was sitting on a nest for 2 days then left them over night. I candeled them and the process had begun. So I removed the eggs as they had surly died after sitting all night with no heat. Next day she was back in the box hissing and growling at me so I have her a dozen golf balls to sit on and she has been on those for about 3 days. My question is how long should I wait to give her real eggs? And if she sticks with it for the 21 days and they don't hatch when do I take her off the nest and get her back to normal? I'm all for letting her hatch but I've never done a live intubation. Is it ok to feed her on the nest before i move her to a private box to raise her babies?

 

[sourland]

If she has been setting solid for 3 days, it should be safe to give her some fertile eggs. Understand that hens sometimes get confused, and if there is a nest close by she may switch nests. Do not leave feed or water within her reach while she is on the nest. Hens must leave the nest to eat and drink or they may defecate in the nest. Generally within 24 to 36 hours after the chicks have hatched she will leave the nest with them.

 

[bobbi-j]

If she has been setting solid for 3 days, it should be safe to give her some fertile eggs. Understand that hens sometimes get confused, and if there is a nest close by she may switch nests. Do not leave feed or water within her reach while she is on the nest. Hens must leave the nest to eat and drink or they may defecate in the nest. Generally within 24 to 36 hours after the chicks have hatched she will leave the nest with them.

^^^ This.

 

[Ridgerunner]

My test is that if a hen spends two consecutive nights on the nest she gets eggs. If she has been spending nights on the nest instead of her normal place to roost she should be good to go. Your experience isn't that unusual. I've had hens act broody but not really be.

For the rest I agree with Sourland. If the hen goes back to the wrong nest just put her in the right one. I've had that happen and still gotten great hatches, even if the eggs feel cold.

 

[aart]

My test is that if a hen spends two consecutive nights on the nest she gets eggs.

Same here..... but I usually break them as I don't need or want more chicks.

Much good advice above...many ways to manage a broody hen.....I like to separate from flock with a wire wall.

 

[jonezjollyfarm]

So I have moved her and she isn't wanting to get up and eat or drink ( she wasn't before the move either) What can I do about that? She has 11 golf balls and 1 egg... she's been on the golf balls for about 6 days and I put an egg in about 4 days ago. Should that egg fail to start to grow or I get a blood ring should I remove it and add a new one or just remove it and she'll eventually realized they aren't going to hatch?

 

[bobbi-j]

Do you not want chicks? If you're not going to have her hatch out, you really should break her broodiness. She may or may not realize that nothing will hatch. Some hens will sit for weeks on nothing and some will give up around the 21 day mark. But they do lose condition when they're on the nest, so if she's not going to hatch anything out, I'd break her.