Hens leaving chicks early this year?

[Penny]

Ive had 2 broodies this year, and both have left their chicks at about 3 weeks old. Just completely abandoned them. One of the same hens kept her babies for 8 weeks last year, so Im a little surprised at what happened this year. Chicks are healthy and growing and both batches huddle together in one of the crates at night so Im not really worried about them, just about the strange broody behavior....or is this the norm?

[Farrier1987]

I have been noticing pretty much the same. About a month they just abandon them. I have ben putting it down to being so hot. Been a good year for broodies for me, I think about 8 hatches so far, and a couple more setting right now. And have only lost one or two that just failed to thrive for no known reason, as happens.

[windwalkingwolf]

I had one girl abandon her babies at 3 weeks last month. It does happen sometimes, and I too have chalked it up to the heat. I've also had five broodies just completely give up on their eggs before hatch, which has never happened to me before. I mean I've had the odd one just quit setting, usually someone with Leghorn in their heritage, but never so many in such a short period of time. Two of them went right back to laying and then went broody again less than three weeks later. One eventually hatched a single chick and the other one I won't let set again because she's a little senile and keeps eating eggs (and embryos). If last year was the Year of the Broody for me (I quit counting at 18) then this year is Year of the Quitter LOL

[Farrier1987]

Hatching hatching. This year has been my most prolific and I like it. About a dozen successful sets probably averaging five chicks per. Five from the very first set this spring, all hens, but I see a few cockerels coming in the next batches.

Red (of WWW mailed eggs fame) hatched 7 chipmunks Saturday. Brown leghorn eggs from WLL, thank you. Fondue hatched overnight, 5 healthy. Bianca is due in about ten days, or maybe its three? Time is not real important here it seems.

The other picture here has my dog lop watching the rain and Blackie Wackie, also from (WindmillWorkingWolf mailed eggs) is very alarmed at the predator.

[Killerbunny]

Red is a very pretty girl!