Pro - Does anyone else's nest boxes get soaked in rain?

[Kitten]

Let my broody out to free range from her new broody hutch but she didn't come back. It's been 3 hours do I've now locked her back in with the flock as I could catch her but she hasnt say back down on eggs. Will they be ok after so long?

[sjp]

I think it's 30 or so minutes it sounds like she hasn't yet accepted the new house as home which can take a few days to a week I'd put the eggs back under her if she's settled back in the main nest box then move her back after dark then keep her in the new hose for a few days and only let her out just before dark she'll be less inclined to go far. but be prepared to right off the eggs.

it must be the day for broodies to play up, the 2 first timers I've got on the go decided to leave the 5 eggs they were sharing today which is day 18 and of cause I didn't find out for 4hrs luckily I've got my no1 broody sitting on 3 eggs that I removed from them after she went broody at the weekend so I've put them under her just hope she can't count how many days she's been sitting

[Kitten]

Mine is now back sitting on eggs but it's been 5hrs!!!! Is it worth moving her and her eggs back to new home tonight or calling it a day?

[Redwing]

the eggs should be fine, five hours inormally fine, better in the later days than the early days but I wouldnt give up either way. It would worry me that the hen isnt as broody as she should be though!

 

The hen now needs a quiet space to sit and hatch the eggs, a rabbit hutch is ideal, the others chickens should not be able to get to her and she shouldnt free range, she just needs enough space to get up and eat/drink

 

if you are going to move her and the eggs do it at night

[Kitten]

Thank you. She has been sitting on the eggs ever since in the main coop but tomorrow night I will move her back into her hutch and this time not let her free range. Everything crossed we still get chicks.

[chuckmum6]

She had already been sitting for 7 weeks, so as advised in earlier post, it will be likely that she will give up brooding as a self protection mechanism. I think it is unlikely that she will sit for another 2 weeks, but hopefully I'll be wrong!