Problems with broody hen

[gillian62]

One of my chickens has been broody for a few weeks, sitting on eggs in the nest boxes until I remove them. So I got some eggs for her to sit on. She started sitting on them yesterday, but when I went in last night she wasn't on them, and they were still cold. What should I do?

I have made a nest box for her to use that is separate from the other boxes, but thought I should leave her in the nesting box she uses daily until she is settled with the eggs.

Any suggestions please?

[Bramble-Poultry]

how long had she been sitting before you put the eggs under? most hens will sit for around 4 weeks and then give it up if nothing hatches.

I am sure Richmondhens will be along shortly. Her experience with broodies is greater than mine as we tend to use incubators here, where as she goes more natural. she is bound to have a better clue than us. we tend to discourage broodiness here.

[RichmondHens]

Hi Gillian

Can I ask if the separate nestbox you are providing is still within the main hen house or in a separate coop? If it is the main hen house it may be that she has chosen her "spot" and does not wish to change. Did she go back to the original nestbox or just outside?
My first thoughts are if she has already been sitting for a few weeks she may now not be feeling broody enough to continue. Some will sit for what seems like forever, but others do their 4 weeks and then say OK, I want to go back to normal now. But all is not lost. The eggs will probably be fine - they can take an interruption or two at the start of incubation without harm. I would get her settled in a separate broody coop now, on some "dummy" eggs, ie ones you don't want her to hatch, then after a day or so, if she seems "tight" on them, ie growling at you if you touch her and not getting off (mine can spend as long as three days on the nest initially before they get off for a drink, feed and poo) then you can slip the intended eggs under, and remove the others. Also do this at night so she won't get off the (initially) cold eggs, which some will do in the daytime. If it's dark they just sit there and carry on snoozing. My dad (who has hatched more eggs than I've had hot dinners) used to very patiently warm each egg up in his hand to take the chill off before slipping them under but I just shove them under cold and the hens take them ok.

If however she does not like being in the broody coop (and some just do not like being moved) then you could try leaving her in her favourite nestbox but you run the risk of other hens pushing her off or just the general hustle of other hens being about may eventually put her off brooding.

[gillian62]

Thanks. I will try separating her earlier into her own space and see if that works.

I didn't realise that they could be broody too long. I have been watching her for a few weeks, and then thought that I should get her some fertile eggs, when I got my feed supplies from my chicken man the other day.

If all doesn't go to plan, a friend has an incubator I can use, but we were looking forward to seeing mum and chicks together.

[RichmondHens]

It may yet happen. Don't lose heart. Anyway, you could still hatch/raise this lot artificially and if you get another broody going a bit later on in the year, try again with her. Good luck!