[Jukes Mum]

I have a hen who has been broody for three days. Is it worth me buying some eggs to put under her (I don't have a cockerel). My concern is that if I order some tomorrow they probably won't arrive until Monday. Will she still sit for for that long? I'm thinking that by the time they are due to hatch she would have been sat for 28 day rather than 21. Will they sit for that long? This is the first time any of them have gone broody.

[Sbom]

A good broody will sit for weeks ( not advised obviously) if you don't give em eggs or de-broody them! She'll be fine til Monday for sure.

[Jukes Mum]

Yay! Well guess what I'm doing this weekend- DIY Broody Coop! 

[HesterF]

Goodness yes, she'll still be there. Unless she's like mine which sat for two weeks on no eggs being completely broody waiting patiently for eggs. Ordered some in, she lasted two days before she got bored. I've now got one broody on 18 eggs. Grrrrr.

[Jukes Mum]

Ha! Pesky chickens! How many do you think is reasonable to put under her? she is huge (SIlver Grey Dorking) and their eggs are quite small. I was thinking 9?

[twizzel]

I put a dozen under my ex commercial type hen- she isn't overly big but it's impressive how big they puff themselves up! She hatched out 8

[Jukes Mum]

12 it is then- if I can get hold of some eggs!

[Jukes Mum]

OK so I built her a broody coop with a little run and popped her in there on Saturday night. Put some eggs under her on Tuesday. So far so good. I have to lift her off the eggs each day and push her through the pop hole into the run where she will eat and drink frantically for 2 mins then hurry back to her eggs. My concern is that she is not toileting. She hasn't had a poo since Sunday! Is this normal (it cartainly can't be healthy!)? Should I shut her out in the run until she's poo'd or......?

[Fleecewife]

The broodies I've had have always come out when they chose to, pooped, had something to eat and drink, maybe a dust bath, socialise grumpily with their chums,then back inside.  They will stay off the nest for 1/2 to 1 hour, which is fine.  If on the other hand we lift them off the nest they will get back inside as quickly as possible.  Let her choose the time she wants to leave her eggs, as she will know when they can be left.  Does she have free access to her run?

[Jukes Mum]

She does have free access to her run, but she won't come out to eat if I don't push her out. Do you think I should leave her be and wait for her to come out of her own accord?

[Fleecewife]

She does have free access to her run, but she won't come out to eat if I don't push her out. Do you think I should leave her be and wait for her to come out of her own accord?

Yes     Give it a go for a few days.   Broodies go into a sort of trance while they are sitting and don't seem to need as much food or exercise as normal.  They will lose some condition, especially if they are sitting on bought eggs for longer than their allotted time.  By constantly interfering with your broodie I think you might be running the risk of her abandoning the clutch - hopefully not 

[Bionic]

My broodies have always popped out very quickly. A quick bite to eat, a shake of the feathers and back again. They eat nowhere as much as the others while they are sitting but seem to come to no harm.

[Jukes Mum]

Thanks all. I will leave her be for a couple of days and see if she remembers to do what she needs to do 

[Jukes Mum]

Good news- she has been out on her own eaten and poo'd (sorry!). I had a peek at the eggs and two are cracked. Should I take these out?

[suziequeue]

Yes - otherwise they will go rotten and possibly infect the rest of the clutch.