Quote:
Originally Posted by karlamaria 
My broody hen was given 5 eggs 3 days ago and she is doing wonderful! We took her off her nest yesterday to eat drink and poop, and again today both times for less then ten minutes, is this safe? We worry with her not eating any food or drinking she will get sick. She has never had fertile eggs before, but when she became broody weeks ago we decided to allow her to have a family because she is so broody and it's almost impossible to breah her from it. so we bought fertile eggs from a sweet family put ten under her and She is so happy sitting, she is determined and I would hate for us to harm this in any way. We put her in a Broody box because the other chickens also lay in the same nest, were bothering her. We set up the separate hutch and put it on the front porch since its cold out still and the hutch has an open end. She is loving the privacy, and refuses to get off those eggs even to drink water. That's why we lifted her off for food and water. Is this ok to do or should we just leave her alone. WhT out taking her out, she will not eat or drink even though there is food in the hutch with her. Once we take her out side she drinks and eats really well, gives the big poop and we then take her and set her ack on her eggs.
My broody hen was given 5 eggs 3 days ago and she is doing wonderful! We took her off her nest yesterday to eat drink and poop, and again today both times for less then ten minutes, is this safe? We worry with her not eating any food or drinking she will get sick. She has never had fertile eggs before, but when she became broody weeks ago we decided to allow her to have a family because she is so broody and it's almost impossible to breah her from it. so we bought fertile eggs from a sweet family put ten under her and She is so happy sitting, she is determined and I would hate for us to harm this in any way. We put her in a Broody box because the other chickens also lay in the same nest, were bothering her. We set up the separate hutch and put it on the front porch since its cold out still and the hutch has an open end. She is loving the privacy, and refuses to get off those eggs even to drink water. That's why we lifted her off for food and water. Is this ok to do or should we just leave her alone. WhT out taking her out, she will not eat or drink even though there is food in the hutch with her. Once we take her out side she drinks and eats really well, gives the big poop and we then take her and set her ack on her eggs.
It's okay to do that until day 18 when you want to leave her alone as much as possible. But you don't have to. If you provide food and water she will eat and drink when she needs to. I hand fed Smokey treats at times. Keep us posted!
My chickens: WL, AC, EE, LO, Marans, EE/WL mix & Silkies = a rainbow of egg colors :)
Chicken farmer since July 2011
"He remembered that they were but flesh, a passing breeze that does not return." Psalm 78:39
My BYC page http://www.backyardchickens.com/a/bobbieschickss-member-page
My chickens: WL, AC, EE, LO, Marans, EE/WL mix & Silkies = a rainbow of egg colors :)
Chicken farmer since July 2011
"He remembered that they were but flesh, a passing breeze that does not return." Psalm 78:39
My BYC page http://www.backyardchickens.com/a/bobbieschickss-member-page
