Will a broody hen stop sitting?

[Cherry Chickens]

Hi, as the title suggests, I'm wondering if a broody hen will suddenly decide she doesn't want to sit on eggs anymore, and stop. I've never had a broody hen before so bear with me. Also, if the chicks do hatch, would it be better to leave them with her, or take them and keep them in a brooder inside? They aren't all her eggs, some are a whole different breed. She is a silkie and currently sitting on some bielefelder eggs as well. Thank you!

 

[Roo5]

Yes,haven’t ever had it happen but some lose the hormonal feeling and just quit.Do you want to raise them?Or do you want her to?

 

[bobbi-j]

I've never had a broody just up and quit for no reason. I have had a couple quit after I tried to move them and their nests. I try not to bother my broodies because I don't want them to give up. When I have a broody hatch chicks I let her raise them. I figure she knows more about being a chicken and teaching her chicks how to be chickens than I do.

 

[aliciaFarmer]

I've only ever had one quit and then she changed her mind and went back a couple days later. It was super annoying! Obviously the first batch didn't make it but the second did. I would leave the babies with Mama after hatch. They don't care if they're their own or not. I actually had two go broody in unison a couple of months ago and ironically, one was sitting on a bunch of the others eggs and the other was sitting on some of the first's eggs. It all worked out great.

 

[Farmer Doc]

We had one get distracted this year by another's chicks but otherwise never had one just give up. It is the best way to go and leave them with her. You will enjoy the show watching her raise them up. We have a couple of great mamas and find it amazing every time!

 

[Sassysouth]

Let her raise them. It is so much easier!!! I was not sure which of my eggs were fertile and which weren’t, so I let my broody sit on fake eggs. Around 3 weeks I took the eggs and slipped chicks under her. It has been an amazing experience.

 

[chrissynemetz]

I had one hen who went broody several times a year, but only for about 10 days then she would give up. She did it repeatedly for her entire life lol.

 

[chrissynemetz]

And I would definitely let the mama hen raise the chicks.