Broody hen -fertile eggs -no hatch -now what?

[foxinachickenhouse]

Well, I called the owners and they don't want to do the chicks. They feel like it's all too much and there's no convincing them, so I'm moving her off the nest in the morning. Poor thing, she's a real mess and candling revealed the eggs are full of lifeless chicks. Bummer. Thanks for the advice everyone, I'll plan to move her into the wire dog kennel by day and then relocate her into the roost with the others for safety at night. Going to scramble her some eggs and put yogurt with her mash for the morning. Hopefully she pulls it together.

 

[Kittymomma]

Sounds like a plan. She should be fine and I bet after being broody so long she'll snap out of it in short order with the wire bottom cage method. I've used it and it really does work great. The scrambled eggs will help since most chooks love them and will inhale the treat even when they're not interested in regular feed. Give her a good going over when you move her back to the coop at night too since they're more likely to have problems with mites when they've been on the nest a long time and have gotten a bit run down. Best of luck with her, maybe she'll be able to try again with better luck in the spring.

 

[Sunny Side Up]

I still think this is the best plan for both the hen and her human family. I don't think any of them need the extra work & responsibility of caring for a batch of new chicks right now.

For best broody busting try to get the cage up off the ground so there is some airflow underneath the hen's breast & bottom. If it's one of those wire kennels with the wide spacing to the wires at the bottom, try using it up-side down so the hen doesn't fall out through the wires. You can cover the top with plywood to keep her from escaping out the top (bottom). Set it up on blocks, bricks, or sawhorses, or hang it from the rafters. If you're concerned about her safety at night, see if you can bring her along in the cage into the coop.

And certainly check her carefully for mites or lice that may have been keeping her company while she was broody.

You're a good friend to chickens and a great neighbor! I wish you lived on my block!

 

[foxinachickenhouse]

Sunny side- great idea turning the cage over. Thanks!
She's in there now, all huffy puffy. She did eat her eggs and yogurt. And she's not trying to sit, just pacing. This is the ugliest chicken ever right now. She's featherless on her neck and her earlobes are all white. Never seen the white ears before. I don't think they were white before. Dusted her for mites. At what point do you cull for broodiness? This girl was broody even part of last winter! Once spring came it was nearly constant. Are Javas known for this? Poor neighbors thought they had an Australorp.