For how long should you add more unset eggs?

Kylie · **Posted:** Sun Feb 24, 2008 10:23 am

greenaus wrote:

I apologise for not keeping you updated Kylie.

Nah thats cool, i was just wondering, she is a good broody, but sometimes to good, if i hadn't seen her off the eggs over a 2 day period i would go and put her out to have a feed and dust bath manly because i was told they should get off the eggs at least once every day or 2 so the eggs wouldn't get too hot.. Someone else maybe able to comment better than i can as i'm like you, still learning..

greenaus · **Posted:** Sun Feb 24, 2008 10:04 pm

kam31 wrote:

She is a good broody, but sometimes too good, if I hadn't seen her off the eggs over a 2 day period I would go and put her out to have a feed and dust bath manly because I was told they should get off the eggs at least once every day or 2 so the eggs wouldn't get too hot.

Hmmm...I have two thoughts about this.

1. Good point. I haven't actually seen her off the nest. In fact, I haven't looked in on her since two nights ago. BBL.

...

Ok. I'm back. She seems fine.

It's not that I don't care. It is just that I did such a good job of privacy and safety from predators and children that she isn't in direct line of sight unless I lift the cover at her end. I look in her pen a few times a day to look for evidence of feeding/drinking/pooing, but avoid looking in on her personally as there are usually kids around.

2. Aren't broody hens smart enough to regulate heat & humidity, etc. Is it possible for eggs to get "too hot" under a broody?

One of my daughters told me this afternoon that her favourite chook is Rex the rooster because he looks so good. Second is the broody because she is so good at staying on the eggs. Since bringing her home, we've barely seen her. The longest time was that first day when she had one of the bantams by the eyelid!

Peter16 · **Posted:** Mon Feb 25, 2008 3:17 pm

Quote:

1. Good point. I haven't actually seen her off the nest. In fact, I haven't looked in on her since two nights ago. BBL.

If she stays on the nest all the time, her health will begin to deteriorate and she will start soiling the eggs thus killing them, so if you see no evidence that she is leaving the nest to drink, eat, poop etc, i would start forcing her off the nest for at least 10-15 minutes each day and making sure she does the things a normal hen would do, and if this means blocking the entrance to the nest for this time, then do so,
hopefully after a couple of days doing this, she will do it on her own

greenaus · **Posted:** Tue Feb 26, 2008 1:07 pm

You know how sometimes you go to the toilet and "build a mountain" because there is just so much to do...

...well...

That's what the broody did in her pen this morning.

Thanks for the suggestion. I'll certainly act on it.

Peacocks Australia · **Joined:** Wed Jan 02, 2002 9:14 am **Posts:** 310755

Good advise from Peter16, it's important that hens get off to feed at least twice a day one option is to place food & water close to the hen this will entice her off.

Thanks
P.A :lol:

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