Broody Australorp Now Mother Hen!!!!!! Lots and Lots of Pics!

[Preservation Acres]

Day 14...

One week to go! I'm worse than a kid waiting for Christmas. Wednesday of next week, I'm going to be a basket case.

 

[cwhit590]

Quote:
You ARE worse than a kid waiting for Christmas!!!

We do expect lots of chick pics in a week.

Like this one.....

(My BO with her foster chicks this spring - her first time being a momma.

)

 

[Preservation Acres]

Ahhhhh!!! Love that pic.

Trust me, you're going to be saying...geez, not another pic!

 

[cwhit590]

Quote:
LOL!

Hey...whatever...I like pics. But, if you do get camera happy I may have to unsubcribe...lol.

I was more of a basket case when I was trying to raise chicks on my own in the house...It's just SO much easier having a broody.

 

[Preservation Acres]

Day 15...less than a week now!!!!!

I picked up my hen today for her daily, mandatory outside walk, and WOW has she lost weight!

She used to be the real piggy of the group, but she's so thin now. I hope she starts eating more after the hatch.

Is a big weight loss normal?

 

[Preservation Acres]

Hello everyone,

Is a huge weight loss typical in a broody hen?

 

[cwhit590]

Quote:
Well...they will lose SOME weight since they aren't eating much...but I dunno about drastic weight loss this soon. I've heard that some determined broodies can waste away if they stay broody for a long long long time w/o being able to hatch anything out.

Sounds like she had a heavy worm load earlier. The worms are taking nutrients away from her body. Not eating as much due to broodiness also means she is getting less nutrient intake....so those factors would explain why she is getting thin. If you've only been giving her the birdseed I would try offering some higher protein foods like cat food, or scrambled egg...and some yogurt might help her system too. Try offering as much as she will take!

Once the chicks hatch she will eat more and get back to acting normal.

 

[Kittymomma]

Quote:
I think it is. Like I've said before, I'm hatching vicariously thru this thread because none of mine have went broody and stayed that way yet. I've read about it quite a bit though and while some seem to do better then others huge weight loss isn't uncommon.

She might be having a little harder time of it because of the worms, but I've read plenty of posts of broody's staying on the nest for 2+ months when something went wrong with the first clutch and she was given a new one to hatch out.

She only has a week to go

Do you think she'd eat some scrambled or hard boiled eggs on her forced daily march...ummm, I mean her daily break?

 

[Kittymomma]

That's what happens when my kids want ice cream before I finish typing a post. Too funny!

 

[Preservation Acres]

Well, I tried to get her to eat something today, but she refused, so.....

I sorta force fed her yogurt through a medicine dropper. Then I sorta force fed her bits of a wiener. Then I sorta force fed her half a slice of wheat bread.

After all that, she gave in and decided to eat bird seed on her own. She has a nice, full crop now, and I'm happy.