Bourbon Red gone wild & Broody

[fairie]

Our 1-year-old hen has decided to nest and brood in our small wooded area.
Last week she had 11 eggs. She was getting off the nest every day and eating, drinking, bathing and laying. Then one day she got off and started eating her eggs! They were all viable, it was bad!

We took the eggs away and gave her some new food filled with more corn and sunflower seeds. She ate like a maniac. Then started panicking looks for her eggs.
I substituted some fake eggs and she hopped back on the nest. That night we put her 4 eggs back under her.

She has not left the nest since.
She is friendly and does not hiss or attack us, we can look under her without being in danger. She has not laid and has not got off the nest since. I put in front of her today and she just turned her head away.

I am worried she will starve. I thought it might be okay to leave her wild and see what happens. So far it's not good. Since she has been virtually brooding the whole time I am not sure when the eggs will hatch. Last year we removed the babies and trained them to eat and drink (after losing 1 to starvation under the mom).

I am looking for some experienced advice. Thanks.

 

[SavKel&RynKel]

Oh wow. Good luck and i hope some experienced people see this!

 

[fairie]

Oh wow. Good luck and i hope some experienced people see this!

Thanks. I have been bringing her a boiled egg on the nest the last 2 days. Then she gets off and runs away with the egg. She eats the egg and spends a long time drinking water. Then is back on the nest total of 3-4 minutes off the nest.
I keep checking her 2x a day to see if there is any change....just waiting!

 

[SavKel&RynKel]

Well that is some good news at least! Have you tried bringing regular food and water close to her?

 

[fairie]

Yes there is water and food where she can reach it. I am worried about leaving food near here as she is out where we have rats and mice and all sorts of wild life. I dont want to attract any unwanted attention to her.

 

[fairie]

Update...there are babies!

I have been bringing her food and water every day.

Then yesterday she was hissing. Last year this was the sign that the chicks had hatched. The hens were all friendly and let me touch them until the chicks hatched then they were scary mommies.

So now there are 3 out of 4 chicks hatched. We dipped their beaks in water and will check on them throughout the day.

My plan is to leave them with their mom and see how it unfolds. Just need some chick starter now.

 

[R2elk]

View attachment 1378643 Update...there are babies!

I have been bringing her food and water every day.

Then yesterday she was hissing. Last year this was the sign that the chicks had hatched. The hens were all friendly and let me touch them until the chicks hatched then they were scary mommies.

So now there are 3 out of 4 chicks hatched. We dipped their beaks in water and will check on them throughout the day.

My plan is to leave them with their mom and see how it unfolds. Just need some chick starter now.

Get high protein turkey or gamebird starter. Chick starter does not contain the proper amount of protein and other nutrients such as lysine, methionine and niacin that the poults need.

 

[fairie]

Thank you. I will. Can I also give them sunflower seeds? I bought broken (shelled) sunflower seeds for the mom.
Thanks again for the advice

 

[R2elk]

View attachment 1379214 Thank you. I will. Can I also give them sunflower seeds? I bought broken (shelled) sunflower seeds for the mom.
Thanks again for the advice

Sunflower seeds should be considered as a treat and as such should be limited to a maximum of 10% of the total diet (the 10% limit applies to all treats combined). Sunflowers are not high in protein but are high in fat content. They are a good source of methionine but probably are not appropriate for poults until they are older.