Barred rock- free range and broody in the middle of a huge straw stack day 20

[FionaMills]

Hi- I have a flock of 10 barred rocks, 5 “rescue” hens and one rogue duck who thinks she’s a chicken.

I live on a farm. They are completely free range except I lock them in their hen house at night.
No roosters so infertile eggs!

This particular hen, Ada, has gone broody and I’m quite certain she’s in the middle on the floor of a huge straw stack- I can’t get to her- I’ve tried in many ways.
I haven’t seen her leave since about day 4 but I don’t know if she’s just super sneaky and I’m missing her. We’re on day 20 now. Any ideas how I can break her? I’ve tried banging on the straw, poking around, just trying to put her off being there (if that’s in fact where she is) but nothing. Tried coaxing her off by shaking the mealworm bag for hours on end- nothing.
Do we think she’s dead? Would she have just sat there and starved or died of dehydration?
I don’t think a predator has had her as I haven’t noticed any feathers…? I also have a cat regularly prowling the straw so that would put a predator off too. She doesn’t bother the hens though in fact she’s regularly sunbathing with them so I know she hasn’t had a chicken dinner.

 

[talkinboutchickens]

Do you have a net on hand that you can try to get her with? Or did you try that already? If you're up for it, take her out, place her somewhere where she won't starve and give her fertile eggs to hatch (from online or a local farm.)

 

[Perris]

Hi- I have a flock of 10 barred rocks, 5 “rescue” hens and one rogue duck who thinks she’s a chicken.

I live on a farm. They are completely free range except I lock them in their hen house at night.
No roosters so infertile eggs!

This particular hen, Ada, has gone broody and I’m quite certain she’s in the middle on the floor of a huge straw stack- I can’t get to her- I’ve tried in many ways.
I haven’t seen her leave since about day 4 but I don’t know if she’s just super sneaky and I’m missing her. We’re on day 20 now. Any ideas how I can break her? I’ve tried banging on the straw, poking around, just trying to put her off being there (if that’s in fact where she is) but nothing. Tried coaxing her off by shaking the mealworm bag for hours on end- nothing.
Do we think she’s dead? Would she have just sat there and starved or died of dehydration?
I don’t think a predator has had her as I haven’t noticed any feathers…? I also have a cat regularly prowling the straw so that would put a predator off too. She doesn’t bother the hens though in fact she’s regularly sunbathing with them so I know she hasn’t had a chicken dinner.

If she is in there, she will come out sooner or later, when she realizes that the eggs are never going to hatch, and her broody hormones will switch off by themselves. Give her tlc at that time; her body reserves will probably be depleted and she'll need good food to get her condition back.