My hen has been broody for 18 days on 10 fertilized eggs, her first time and our first time as flock owners. Her comb has been pale and flopped over for about 10 days now. At first we could see she was leaving nest to eat as her poop was evident. Not so, now. I just lifted her off nest and put her by food & water. She ate a few dried worms and black sunflower seeds but no water and then shakily walked back to her nest. Don’t know if she has mites or not. I shoved food and water in her face in the nesting box—she ate a few dried worms but no water. She also for first time today doesn’t seem to be covering all her eggs as well. She’s looking very rough.
Do I hold her, force her beak open, and syringe water in her beak?
Do I carry her outside the coop to a dust bath and refresh the nesting box in case of mites?
Do I hold her, force her beak open, and syringe water in her beak?
Do I carry her outside the coop to a dust bath and refresh the nesting box in case of mites?
