I need Broody advice please!

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navychick

navychick

Songster
8 Years
May 17, 2011
238
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I have 11 hens almost 1 year old. They share the same coop/run. One of our BO's has been showing signs of "going broody" for a while. Four days ago she was in the nesting box when I secured the coop at night and I lifted her off the nest and placed her on a perch for the night. This continued every night and yesterday I went to a friend and got 6 of his fertilized eggs thinking if she was on her nest last night I'd replace the egg under her with the fertilized ones and let her try to be a momma. My question is how do I care for a broody hen? Is there a link someone can share? Do I bring her food and water? Will she leave the nest and care for herself (I haven't seen her leave yet). Should I relocate her at some point so the chicks will be secluded from the flock when they hatch? Thanks in advance tor your help. -Tamara
 
Broody hens will usually get off the nest to eat and drink 1-3 times a day, that's why it's super important to have food and water available for her. Make sure the other hens have a box too!
 
They will usually get off on their own and sneak a food/water and to poo. Just make sure food and water is available and she'll do the rest. And make sure the food/water is at chick level when the babies hatch.

Mark the eggs you set under her, so if others sneak eggs in her nesting box, you know which ones to remove. Some people separate broodies from the rest of the flock. Unless your hen is really low in the pecking order, she should protect them fine.

I moved a broody and her chicks because she was in a 2nd story nest box and when I came into the coop, one of her chicks had fallen out. So I moved her and her chicks after hatch to a more suitable location. I currently have a broody that I'm letting raise her babies with the flock. It just depends on the circumstances.
 
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