Broody Hen Day 17 - Pale Comb

[Dgrif5]

Hi, and apologies for the disturbance! I fell all I do is ask questions these days!

we have a broody hen that's been sitting on eggs in our nesting box (we've been keeping track of any egg additions, but we only have one other hen laying so it's not too bad). She's been going out at least most days to eat and drink in the morning, but despite that her comb seems to be really pale. It's seemed a little pale for a week now, but I thought it was mostly my imagination, but today it seems particularly bad. Is it something to be concerned about? and if so: what can be done?

Here is the hen in question. She's a lovely little buff Leghorn, but her comb is usually much redder than that.

Thanks for your time!

 

[DobieLover]

Broodies sometimes fall victim to mites and lice if they fail to dust bathe regularly. Check her over for external parasites.

 

[sylviethecochin]

Broody hens usually lose most of the colour in their combs. I would check for mites as a matter of course, but I don't think you have to worry about her.

 

[Ebony Rose]

Bright red combs and waddles not only indicate health, but also sexual availability and in the case of hens, laying... You've noted that she's eating and drinking well, and she otherwise acts and looks healthy, so I'm going to suggest that the lack of color is a **coughs** red flag (teeheehee see what I did there?) that she's not welcoming sexual advances and she's not laying. Congratulations on your upcoming hatch

 

[Dgrif5]

Thanks for the information I've done a quick check for mites and such, but we've never had an issue with such things, and I didn't see anything unusual. Should we block off the nesting box starting tomorrow? if she's going into lockdown, would it be best to prevent our laying hen from disturbing her at all? thanks.

 

[1clicc]

Nothing to worry about and its completely normal. As long as you have food and water available to her she will be good.

 

[Dgrif5]

cheers as mentioned in my previous reply, would it be best block off the nesting box she's in during lockdown, to prevent other hens from disturbing her? Or would that risk upsetting her further?

In addition, there's a related but separate issue I wanted to ask about. Originally, the eggs she is sitting on were in an incubator for a few days, but when she went broody (and kept broody) we thought we'd transfer them. There are currently 7 eggs underneath her, but there are still two eggs left in the incubator, and one is quite large. I didn't put them under her originally as I thought it would be too much for her, but as I didn't expect many of the eggs to develop, I thought i'd 'swap them in' for any bad eggs I candled. Despite my scepticism however, all the eggs still seem to be on track and developing properly since I candled them on day 14! which means i'm stuck with these two incubated eggs, and unsure of the best move forward...

Should I:
A - put them under her at lockdown, and hope that she can manage them all to hatch (we've lost hatches before to hens trying to manage too many eggs, and she's only little, so i'm quite worried about this)
B - wait for them to hatch (if they do), then slip them under the mother with the others (if they hatch as well). I've never added chicks post-hatch, so I don't know if this would even work.
C - raise them separately (i'd rather not do this, as we are currently raising 5 nearly two week old chicks by hand, and it would be difficult to build a separate setup and devote the necessary time/care.
D - ?

 

[sylviethecochin]

would it be best block off the nesting box she's in during lockdown, to prevent other hens from disturbing her? Or would that risk upsetting her further?

It might upset her, but it's unlikely. If the other hen lays eggs in that nest, I would definitely block it, as the eggshells are at their thinnest right now, and a misplaced foot could be the end of a chick. I do bring my broodies water twice a day during their self-determined lockdown.

There are currently 7 eggs underneath her, but there are still two eggs left in the incubator, and one is quite large

You can probably stick those under her. Most hens can handle nine eggs. If you're sure they won't fit, just wait until the eggs hatch and slip the new chicks under her with their hatching siblings. Most hens will accept chicks if those chicks are put under her while the hens's in lockdown. Alternatively, wait until a few of the chicks under her hatch, and then there'll be more room for eggs.

 

[1clicc]

I go with "B". If I have chick hatching in the incubator the same time as broody hen, I usually slip them to the broody at night time and the mom usually take real good care of them. That way I dont have to find any heat lamp and worry about them getting sick.

 

[jas humbert]

I've added new chicks to broodies before and it has always worked out. Nighttime is best but not absolutely necessary. As long as the eggs watch within a day or two of each other you will be fine. I currently have a tiny silkie mama managing 9 chicks so your broody hen will likely take good care of the whole batch. It is plenty warm outside and will be easier for her than a winter hatch. Maybe not all your eggs will hatch anyway.