brooding hen looking sickly??????

[rb roosting]

I had 2 BR hens go broody so a week ago last saturday i whipped a lil cage up and put a doz eggs under each. They both have been doing awesome job candeled egg from each hen saw excellent embryo in both. My fear is 1 of the hens isn't looking too good, her comb and wattles are looking pale as is her eyes almost yellowish tint. I keep feed and water in with them the other hen still looks fine and has same deep red color comb and wattles. Is it possibly from the one not getn off the nest and eating??? Should i remove her and let her back in with the flock and try to replace her with another hen (for the eggs sake) Maybe this is normal and I am over reacting but I fear she might not make it another week and a half til hatch. Any suggestions or anybody ever have this happen??? Just found this forum more info she will be 1yr old in august she is part of a flock of 25 chickens 7 RR hens 1 RR roo 16 BR hens 1 BR roo all others look great, she looked and acted great up til last 2 days or so she a lil slow acting and today i found her laying with the other hen in the other nest?? dont know how long, it been chilly here in mich. lately escpecially at night low to mid 30's thanks for any and all help

 

[jennh]

Are you sure she was broody in the first place? It won't do any good to put another hen on the eggs if she's not broody. She won't stay, and you shouldn't force her if she's not broody. I have read that sometimes the broodies don't look so good near the end of the incubation period. How long has it been?

Jen

 

[rb roosting]

I am sure she was broody she been trieng to set for the previous two weeks and after i added the eggs she took to them like pigs to mud. It will be 2weeks this saturday, I know at least 1 of them are eating by the way the feed is disappearing, she was on the nest today and with me working hard to watch to see if she is getn any food? I do know there is poo in the enclosure bigger than normal poo, even was some in the nest she was on??? I guess I will keep a close eye on her and pray for the best 8 and half days hopefully be bunch of lil chicks and momma to take care of them. oh yeh and the thought of puting another hen on the nest I have another hen acting like she wants to go broody now the other 2 are not there. I think i need to make individual nest boxes for them to lay in, I have a community box 4'long and with me averaging 16 - 20 eggs a day i think that makes them want to be so broody???

 

[LuvinMyPeeps]

I would make sure her food and water are nearby her nest so she doesn't have to get off to eat and drink. I had a broody that looked kind of pale too and it was because she was sitting and not getting up to eat....poor dedicated girl. I also added soft beef cat food (in the little pop top cans) to her crumble food, about 1 can every day or two for protein. Not too much though. She LOVED it!!!!!!!! I also put electrolytes/vitamins (you can get a cheapie packet at Tractor Supply if you have that store nearby, or a local feed store), which also helped bring back her color. I think the hormones and sheer dedication of some broodies take a lot out of them. It worked like a charm. In a day or two she perked up...it was awesome and she hatched out two sweet little fuzzy butts!

Added: Make sure you add fresh bedding too. If they are pooping in their nest it can get messy and smelly fast. You don't need to disturb the eggs, but I removed the yucky bedding from around her and added fresh. She seemed to like it and she moved the bedding all around. another thing is if you can, check for mites on her. If they aren't moving they could get them and that could cause the paleness.

Please keep us posted on how she does.

 

[rb roosting]

thanks for all the suggestions saw her eating this weekend whew who, seems to be doing better. I did move feed and water and changed the bedding, she looks a lot more energetic she is back to puffn right up when you approach the encosure. I think she was just a dedicated mommy and hopefully in 6 days we will have some fuzzy chics I am so excited as are my wife and kids. who knew letting a couple chickens try hatching some eggs could be so stressful lol thanks again Russ

 

[rb roosting]

Just wanted to let everyone know 12 chicks were hatched out last friday (from hen with no problems) and 5 hatched out sat (from sickly lookin hen) whew who. Now i have to figure out what to do with them lol. Just kidding cuter than a bunch of lil buttons, wish i could figure out how to post pics there is one that is yellow downed, havent figured that one out being rhode Island Reds and Barred Rocks in flock????? 2 possible R.R. (dark brown) rest either Black sexlinks or Barred Rocks either way all are pretty cool can't wait til they feather out. On the sad side had 3 that pipped (broke hole in shell???) but didn't make it. Don't know if she got off nest and it was to cold or what exactely maybe I should of helped a little more, I didn't want to disturb them any more than I had to. We will just be grateful for the 17 cuties we were blessed with, had started with 24 but i cracked one candeling it so ended up being 23 we tried hatching. Man what an experience I think I aged 5yrs from all the stress and anxiety lol just wanted to let everyone know how it turned out and to say thanx for help