Worried about my two Broody hens

[NeeCee51]

Hi Peeps, Two of my hens are sitting on eggs and have been for about two weeks. They never seem to get off the nests to eat and drink, Should I make them get off for a while? If so how long can they be off for the eggs to be safe...This is my first time and I am a nervous Mom..Thanks

 

[marjwhamond]

Don't worry. They do get off but only got a minute or 2 at a time. Question: are they pooping every few days?

 

[azygous]

You can remove them from the nests, carefully so eggs don't get broken, twice a day so you will have the peace of mind knowing they've had a poop and food and water break.

I do this with my broodies because I'm just that way. They would probably do it on their own, but this way I know they're pooping and eating. It does no harm for you to create their breaks for them.

 

[NeeCee51]

They seem to be pooping. I go in the run to keep it tidy and there is some pretty nasty smelling poop in there.

 

[NeeCee51]

Since this is my first time I am a little nervous about moving them. I will just keep an eye on them and see what happens...UGH!!!

 

[Kev]

That very smelly poop definitely is Broody Poop. Nasty huh?!

Anyways that is a clear sign they are getting off the nest for breaks, so don't worry especially if the eggs are fertile.

If the eggs are not fertile, then you either need to break them of it or give fertile eggs. Broody hens will continue to sit for much longer than 21 days if the eggs aren't hatching...

 

[Ridgerunner]

If they are not pooping in the nest, they are getting up. Kev is absolutely right about finding the evidence like that.

Something that may make you feel better. Before a hen goes broody she stores up excess fat. She does that before she even starts to lay, let alone go broody. Most of that is in the vent area but there is excess fat all through her body. That fat is most of what she lives off of while she is broody. She still needs to get up for food, water, to poop, and often they enjoy a dust bath, but with that fat she can spend most of her time on the nest. She’s not laying eggs either so she does not need all that extra nutrition to make eggs. You may notice a broody hen losing weight. That’s just excess fat put there for that purpose. It’s not a problem.

 

[NeeCee51]

I definitely have 5 eggs that are fertile for sure. I got them from a local breeder. She also has two others under her that have been there a couple days longer. The other hen is sitting on 2 eggs and I have no idea if they are fertile. The way the rooster had been mounting them I tend to think they might be. I am going to leave them set till around the 28th or 29th, If nothing has happened by then I don't think it will. Do you think I should try and candle them? I don't have anything to candle them with I need to get one...Thanks

 

[NeeCee51]

That sure makes me feel better. Like I said they are first time moms and so am I. I really appreciate all the help..Thanks..

 

[Kev]

Just a regular flashlight will do. If it's a small flashlight you can simply hold the flashlight up, place egg over it. If it's fertile, there will be very clearly something dark inside. Might see blood veins.

Infertile eggs are pretty clear, if you have to struggle to see something besides brightness it is not fertile. There are many pictures and even videos on youtube on candling and how the eggs look like during candling.

Candling is a good idea, in case the eggs are no good, then you can put a fresh batch of fertile eggs immediately. It's also a good idea to remove either infertile or early death eggs, they stink and have the potential to break and smear the other eggs.

It is not too good to have different age eggs in the same nest. The hens will leave the nest within 12-24 hours after the first chick hatches, it will not matter at all to her about the other eggs still in nest. So you either have to take away the first chicks soon after they hatch so she will stay on and 'finish' the other eggs or if you cannot bear to take away the chick, put the other eggs in incubator. Then you can reintroduce the older chicks once the other eggs have hatched.

Hens with babies usually will not accept new chicks after a few days. They definitely 'know' their babies within one or two days.

Next time, it is a good idea to mark the eggs and put all new eggs at once under a broody hen. Much less headache this way.

By the way, it is a good idea to replace eggs if a fair number prove to be infertile, especially in a small clutch. Let's say one of the two eggs is infertile, take that one away and put a fresh egg. Some hens will quit a nest if she had 10 and suddenly there's only 2. But she will stay on if it went down to 8 from 10- no need to replace in this case...

And good luck, it is so sweet to see a mother hen with babies. I currently have a mother hen with 17 chicks.