How long will a broody stay broody?

[teach]

Hi
I have a shipment of fertile eggs coming in on tuesday. My best broody bantam went MIA so we went hunting for her last night. She was in an old pigeon nest 8 feet off the ground in a old shed. We removed her and her 16 eggs last night then suddenly thought "Oh Bugger! She could be useful". Should I leave her where she is (she went back) then move her to a better spot with my barnevelder eggs on tuesday. Will this work you think?

[eae]

What I've done in that situation is moved the hen a couple of days before putting new eggs under her to ensure she's settled on the new nest. I think since you've got the opportunity, you shouldn't move her and put new eggs under her at the same time.. could be too much change at once and that might put her off.

I only have limited experience though, hopefully someone with more will chime in and give their opinion too

[wolga]

Why not leave her where she is ? As long as it is a safe spot and you would know
what day the chicks hatch so you can rescue them.

[Marina]

I, too, would leave her where she is and move her and her chicks once the Barnevelder chicks have hatched.

Most hens are happy to stay on a nest for 4 or 5 weeks. Make sure she's not pestered by lice or mites.

[teach]

Apologies for not replying sooner. Rude of me since I asked a question.
Taco the broody bantam didn't go back to being broody. The eggs arrived a few days later and I put them in the incubator. One of my barnies went clucky the other day so I shifted her into an old dog kennel and left her with the eggs she was sitting on. She was in a main nesting box and the others were sitting on her to lay their eggs. She was getting quite a hoard built up.
I have just been out and replaced the eggs with 6 from the incubator. She is sitting tight on the nest and attacked my hands so I think she will stay put.

[wolga]

Hi teach,
Unfortunately some are not so keen on motherhood.
I’ve had a hen walk away after sitting for almost 2 weeks.
Mites were not the cause. I make sure to keep the nest
mite free. Luckily I noticed that early enough to rescue the
eggs. All 12 hatched in the incubator. Good luck with your
barbie. When are the clocks due ? Most hens need to for at least
a fortnight before they except chicks.