I have a broody hen who has been sitting tight on some fertile sebright eggs that I bought on the internet. I have been lifting her out each morning to get her to eat and drink which she does with great gusto but I wanted to know how long can she be away from the eggs before going back to them. When she was out this morning for just over an hour I checked one of the eggs and it was quite cold to the touch - is this normal?
Farming Friends Forum » Hens
Broody Hen - time away from eggs
(6 posts)-
Posted 1 year ago #
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my duck is sitting on her nest, the other day she came out for over an hour, i wondered if she would go back but she did, i think they can somehow tell if the babies are dead, have you tried candelling an egg, to see if theres any movement inside?? i expect theyre fine xx
Posted 1 year ago # -
yes my duck also used to come off for different length periods of time. she mostly covered them over (like wapping them in foil) to keep them the right temperature. The nhen knows its warm atm so I expect they will be ok.
Sarah LPosted 1 year ago # -
Hi, to be honest you don't need to lift your hen off the nest ,she will do it herself. She will be off the eggs no longer than she feels is right .Just make sure as I think you already have ,that she has food and water close by. How long has she been sitting ? Mama
Goose GirlPosted 1 year ago # -
She has been broody for over a week. I tried to snap her out of it by taking away the eggs but gave in and bought some fertile eggs off the internet. We placed these in the nest box 2 days ago and she has been sitting tight since then. My other 2 hens are a bit put out because they are now roosting in the old rabbit hutch - they're ok though :-)
Since this morning I've not seen her come out at all to eat or drink. I have read that some hens can starve to death because they put all their effort into sitting on their eggs and dont look after themselves.
Posted 1 year ago # -
Please don't worry, I also read all those things and it is enough to frighten you whitless. I did just as you are when I first started hatching eggs under a broody but after a bit of experience and several hatches learn't that we worry to much. I Never had a hen starve to death or a duck or a goose . Also had 100% percent hatch rate with the chooks .Sorry about the other hens but as you say they are ok and this little girl want's to be a mummy . She will be fine but if it makes you feel better just lift her off for a couple of days and then leave her to . Good luck. Mama
Goose GirlPosted 1 year ago #
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