I just discovered this morning my pekin broody has kicked her 3 eggs out of the nest and unfortunately they were stone cold by the time I found them. I have put them back under her and she is sitting again but I wonder if they will still be viable at this late stage? I could put a couple of newer eggs under her (although I had just promised them to someone else!) but this would mean her sitting for 5 - 6 weeks in total which I don't think would be good for her - any opinions? I think it could have been my fault as I only moved her into her own house yesterday and she wasn't happy! Unfortunately I was let down on getting a new broody coop so had to compromise and make something up myself at the last minute. Again, as is always the way, I am about to go away for easter so need to do something one way or the other before friday, to make life easier for my chicken sitters! Do I break her being broody by putting her in cold water (which I hate doing but has worked in the past) or put her on more eggs?
Eggs kicked out of nest on Day 18 or 19
- Thread starter elmdene
- Start date
You're right that sitting for six weeks would be unfair on her, such a small bird has even less reserves than a larger one and shouldn't be asked to lose any more weight. Also, as you're going away you won't be on hand to see how things turn out. It would be best to isolate her in a small grass run or other bare enclosure, cool but open to the light, and prevent her going into anywhere cosy and dark, as this is the best way to break a broody. Light and air will help to reset her hormones so after a few days she will be back to normal. She will run around protesting loudly, but will be getting exercise and feeding up. Also this method is easier for whoever is looking after your birds whilst you're away - she can rejoin the flock after a few days once she stops wanting to go into the nestboxes. She should be kept in a bare box or dog carrier overnight if her bare pen isn't safe from foxes as snuggling in a dark nest box will slow down her recovery to normal. Leaving her out in the pen in the open air is best, in a corner of a secure run if you can manage this, but her safety overnight is more important.
I don't think the cold water method is as useful or natural as exposure to light and air, because exposure will quite rapidly return her hormones to normal without the shock of dunking in cold water, and is much more humane as well. Once back in the flock, she should return to lay after a week or so in recovery, and when she has laid a clutch she may well go broody again and you could give her more eggs at that point, there should still be plenty of summer left for a successful hatch. As you've discovered, it's best to get everything ready in advance and avoid any last- minute changes to the nest and coop - and also, if possible, plan to be around at hatching time!
Good luck and let us know how it goes.
I don't think the cold water method is as useful or natural as exposure to light and air, because exposure will quite rapidly return her hormones to normal without the shock of dunking in cold water, and is much more humane as well. Once back in the flock, she should return to lay after a week or so in recovery, and when she has laid a clutch she may well go broody again and you could give her more eggs at that point, there should still be plenty of summer left for a successful hatch. As you've discovered, it's best to get everything ready in advance and avoid any last- minute changes to the nest and coop - and also, if possible, plan to be around at hatching time!
Good luck and let us know how it goes.
chrismahon
Well-known member
You may find the eggs are OK Elmdene, just that they hatch a day or so later than expected. I wouldn't give up on them yet as we've had eggs hatch up to 3 days late, although in our case it was due to a poorly insulated incubator.
It really depends on how long you're going to be away - if only for a day or two, the no harm in leaving her on the eggs, but if for longer, eg a week, then your chicken sitter might need to manage decisions for you.
I feel so bad about disturbing her but glad to hear there may still be a chance of hatching. My chicken-sitters are very excited about the possibility of Easter chicks - I had to pass it by them before I decided to let her sit as I knew I would be away. She went broody 3 times last year so even if I stopped her this time I knew she would do it again at probably an even more inconvenient time - animals just seem to know! Will keep you posted...
valeriebutterley
New member
Pekins are a pain when it comes to being broody. Mine are always at it. and I have almost a shopful of pinched eggs from the non broody ones.
Unless I specifically want new chicks, I always dispose of the eggs when they show under the broody!! (biggest haul was 19)
Tomorrow will be chucking the eggs out day, as I have some in the incubator about to hatch. Broodies seem to me to be very hit and miss, out with the others to play if and when the mood takes them, can't do that in an incubator - so any successful eggs have come from artificial incubation.
One of my Croads has gone broody and she seems to be much more mindful of her duty, unlike the Pekins, growled at me when I relieved her of a CLB egg she was getting comfortable on.
I also have a rogue bantam, a beautiful hybrid Silkie/pyle gamebird, she has murderous tendencies and always has killed her chicks.
All in all, can you see why I love my Brinsea.
Unless I specifically want new chicks, I always dispose of the eggs when they show under the broody!! (biggest haul was 19)
Tomorrow will be chucking the eggs out day, as I have some in the incubator about to hatch. Broodies seem to me to be very hit and miss, out with the others to play if and when the mood takes them, can't do that in an incubator - so any successful eggs have come from artificial incubation.
One of my Croads has gone broody and she seems to be much more mindful of her duty, unlike the Pekins, growled at me when I relieved her of a CLB egg she was getting comfortable on.
I also have a rogue bantam, a beautiful hybrid Silkie/pyle gamebird, she has murderous tendencies and always has killed her chicks.
All in all, can you see why I love my Brinsea.
Minorcafan
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elmdene said:
Just been reading this and wondered how the hatching went?
