darrenschickens Posted April 7, 2009 Share Posted April 7, 2009 I have a broody bantam sitting on some eggs (her first time), but she refuses to leave the nest to eat or drink. I've been taking her out of the nest and putting her in a small enclosure on the grass so she can relieve herself and take in food/water. Question is, how long can the eggs be left uncovered before there is risk of damaging the chicks inside? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wiblick Posted April 7, 2009 Share Posted April 7, 2009 From what I've read it's quite natural for the eggs to be without the hen while she does exactly that: relieves herself and feeds, although apparently she will only do that about once a day. Are her feed and water stations close to her? Like only a couple of feet away? According to Storey's Guide she'd be okay leaving the nest for 15 minutes or so once a day and you shouldn't worry if she doesn't eat for the first couple of days... and that she may be eating when you are not around. The important thing would be that there is nothing around that makes her feel like she can't leave the nest - if she feels secure, and nothing will get near her eggs when she leaves she should feel more confident about leaving them. And apparently don't touch her after day 16 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darrenschickens Posted April 7, 2009 Author Share Posted April 7, 2009 She's currently in the garage, in a wooden box about 30cm x 60cm. It's enclosed, with a mesh panel I've put into half of the front section. The food and water are in small containers no more than 30cm from her. I'd hoped to leave her untouched, but when I noticed she wasn't really drinking I put the containers within reach of the nest. After about the 4th day there was a pretty ripe smell coming from the garage resulting from 4 days of her holding it in! She'd not bothered to leave the nest to relieve herself either. Ever since then I've kept the food/water about 30cm away and made sure to take her out once a day. Day 14 now. I'm tempted to put her back outside, cut a hole in the box and give her a small area of grass to get on. I'd put the food/water on the grass, but I'm not convinced she'd actually go out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
freckles Posted April 7, 2009 Share Posted April 7, 2009 We had a broody bantam and I found she went a couple of days, sometimes 3 days without leaving the nest. I ended up putting the food and drink within her reach as she wasn't eating or drinking either and that helped. A few times we had to 'encourage' her to come out for a poop and she maybe stayed out for 15-20 minutes at most before she went back in. I eventually had to chill as I was stressing so much that she wasn't coming out every day but she is over it now (we have one chick!) and shows no ill effects. She looks just like she always did and is active and a great wee mum . Stick with it, you're nearly there! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MadMitch Posted April 7, 2009 Share Posted April 7, 2009 My broody is just the same, she won't leave the eggs unless I physically pick her up and move her. She then has a poo a bit to eat and drink a quick dust bath then back on the nest again. keep in regular contact with the woman I get my chooks from and she said the eggs are fine for 20 mins. She also said to make corn available for her to eat as it is better than pellets while she is sitting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
