How Long Can a Broody Hen Leave Her Eggs

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• Raising BackYard Chickens
• Chicken Behaviors and Egglaying

how long can a broody hen be off her eggs?

• Thread starter siouxbee
• Get-go date Jul 9, 2008

• #i

Tomorrow she'll have been sitting for one week on the eggs. When we came home today she was out in the m. More than my fault though, because due to space limitations, she's yet in the regular coop nestbox where she started, and since everyone was piling on and withal laying in that box, I've block off that box to continue them out.

Except that it keeps her in. I've put food and water in reach for her, but she wanted to stretch her legs and couldn't get back in. I've no idea for how long.

It was hot and boiling here today (87 degrees) and probably slightly more than so in the coop. Is this a big bargain or are these eggs no skilful?

Thanks,
Siouxbee

• #two

I've only had one hen go broody (this leap) simply I plant her off her nest four different times and the eggs were really common cold to the impact. I put her back on each time and actually had one chick hatch (she was merely sitting on five eggs total). I don't know if the low hatch was due to the eggs getting cold (that my assumption) or problems when they were mailed to me.

• #3

• #4

Feb 13, 2008

761

ii

153

NH

I have several broodies, and they generally do know what they are doing. Some hens volition get off once a day, for up to an hour, to swallow, bathroom and drink. Some will become off every few days, for merely a few minutes. I have seen eggs get cold, and they practise hatch. Dont worry......just allow female parent nature take its course. It has been so hot here, I had bad hatches this leap......but it has been in the high xc'south and I am sure that has something to exercise with it.

• #5

I know this is an old thread just had to mail my experience. Short version: Neighbors new chickens escaped and I heard them all over the area.

Virtually 3 weeks ago my dogs let me know I had adopted a brooding hen. She had set up shop nether my deck steps. She had 9 eggs in the nest. I permit her stay.

Permit's just say, I've learned a lot about chickens in the final few weeks. I'm in the central east declension area. The last few weeks, check the date, has been in the xl-50s (F) over nights. 60-70s (F) daytime temps.

Well a calendar week ago she was off the nest for a few hours. No thought how long but she was off the nest when I got habitation and wasn't on it once again until well after dark. Probably 4 hours or more. The eggs were common cold to the touch. Based on EVERYTHING I read, if they were viable, they were at present expressionless. Not having the heart to cleft ane to verify, I left her on them until I was sure information technology was Manner after the 21 days.

I'm now a daddy. ALL ix HATCHED!!! Probably 21 days on the nose (requite or accept a day or 5).

• #half-dozen

• #vii

Congratulations! I'grand but getting started with the whole broodiness and my broody hen went in the wrong nest for about 3 or iv hours, leaving her eggs cool. I take read what other people say, just I'1000 still worried they won't hatch. I'm new to this then, please reply.

Final edited: Jun 15, 2011

• #8

My broodies stayed in the coop to brood. Whenever someone else would lay an egg my silkie would sit on it, leaving the eggs she was supposed to be brooding pushed off to the side. They felt cool several of the times, but I'd just button them back under her. Ended upward with all their eggs hatching. I think it's more of a problem in wintertime, when they become colder and common cold faster.

• #nine

Thanks for the reply. I'g learning a lot from this forum.

• #ten

It is amazing the extremes the eggs can go through and still hatch. However, these instances are also reasons why it'due south platonic to continue your broody dissever -- if at all possible -- during her set.

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