Barred Rock Hen Broody

[HoosierChickenMan]

Have a Barred Rock hen broody, don't know how many she is setting on, she has been on the nest since last friday 4/28, I have tried to give her water and food , but she will not take either, is this normal? the other hens will not use the hen boxes to lay, they have found a old nest box, on the other side of the coop to use. I have noticed she will allow me to pet(smooth) her feathers, and she makes a funny sound when I do this, and it is not a upset sound. How long until she hatches them? thanks for any info!

 

[Tracy the chick]

Have a Barred Rock hen broody, don't know how many she is setting on, she has been on the nest since last friday 4/28, I have tried to give her water and food , but she will not take either, is this normal? the other hens will not use the hen boxes to lay, they have found a old nest box, on the other side of the coop to use. I have noticed she will allow me to pet(smooth) her feathers, and she makes a funny sound when I do this, and it is not a upset sound. How long until she hatches them? thanks for any info!

Hey hun, i would leave some water and food for her as she will eat when she feels like it, if you think she is losing too much weight take her off the nest and take her to the food, you could even sprinkle some food in her nest that she will peck at. My broody would get off her nest for about half an hour a day and she hatched her eggs great so dont worry about that. It should take 21 days for them to hatch. I used to give my broody a stroke everyday and she would make a clucking noise, in the UK we dont call them broody we say we have a Clocker due to the noise they make. Keep us posted.

 

[Achickenwrangler#1]

It's hard not to worry about them and just leave em alone, I put a little tin of water and food where they can reach it and check occasionally.
Lucky for you the other hens went elsewhere, some of mine climb into brooodies nest and lay eggs with her, now she has eggs spilling out of the nest. I assume she knows which eggs are viable and since have move her where the others can't bother her.

 

[HoosierChickenMan]

I too caress her everyday, and yes she clucks too, but it is a different type than regular, very soft sounding, I love my girls! But them boys are a handful lol!

 

[HoosierChickenMan]

The other hens steer clear of her, I have 3 nest boxes right next to each other, they will use the farthest from her, but most go into the nest on the opposite side of the coop. They are very well behaved!