Broody hen no fluid for 5 days

[pgpoultry]

My Gold Brahma hen has been broody virtually since she first started to lay. On the first occasion I broke her from the broodiness, she laid for a few days, ran with the others and promptly went broody again. I relented and gave her 8 eggs from the incubator which were on day 13. So she sat and sat and sat. No food or fluid at all even when I lifted her and with food/fluid virtually under her beak . Last night I became fearful for her survival with no fluid at all in these 5 days, so lifted her and separated her a distance from sight of her beloved eggs. At first she just drooped, refusing to eat or drink. Then..... after 2 to 3 minutes an ominous low rumbling noise followed by an explosion of poop and fluid shooting almost 3 feet. Then she drank solidly for about 10 minutes.
I may be going to have chicks yet, and at least my hen must be better hydrated! I am also very glad that she won't have the full 21 days to sit
How long have others broodies been with no food or fluid?
Sandie

 

[missred871]

Well I can help you with that problem, i have a banty mix hen that I call Momma because she is so broody. When my hens sit I put something over the front of the nest with food and water so she wont have to go far from her eggs. This keeps her from dehydrating and starving herself. I dont let mine sit in the winter and this is her first spring as an adult (she was a hen from last springs hatch) so she was real serious about sitting, I dont babysit them though but she was looking pretty rough one day she was all better though after we put the food and water within her reach. She only just has to step off the edge of the nesting bucket to get to it. You might try that with your broody hen and see if that helps.

 

[Rynn]

I've just had my first hatch from a broody hen and she was very serious about sitting on the eggs.

She sat the whole time with out any food or water at all untill the chicks hatched yesterday and then she sorted herself out.

I did isolate her but she had food and water with her and she was not interested at all the eggs were more important.

I wouldn't worry too much they know what they are doing and if they need water or food im sure if you put it within her reach she will look after her self - Just keep an eye on her.

it sounds like your eggs are on day 13 so id give it till over 21 days to make sure - taking them out of the bator might of put them back a few days but keep and eye mine hatched early under the hen.

Good luck

 

[pgpoultry]

Thank you, I hope that Momma has managed to hatch chicks, but she sounds pretty experiences.
The thing is with my broody her food and water were (and are) within a beak's range of her. She did not, however, touch a thing even when I lifted her from the eggs and stood her on the other side of the water and food. She just sat down and stayed put. Last night in desperation I moved her away from sight of the eggs and she drank a lot after emptying. I repeated this today and she has drunk a large amount straight away, though not taken any food. She looks a lot brighter today.
All along she has been allowed to continue to use the area where she has chosen to brood ( a rickety old rabbit hutch which was in the barn) She has no interference from the other chickens or the dog, cat, goat or sheep with which she shares the barn who are all chicken-friendly and who she has known since she hatched herself. I have covered the rabbit hutch with an old rabbit run to protect her from predators and to give her privacy (Foxes largely kept at bay by dog and goat, but buzzards and kites a potential threat with chicks). She can remain in there with any chicks that hatch for a few weeks, though I may move them onto grass if this is advisable.
It just seems she is one of those hens who will brood to the death if left to her own devices. Fortunately the other hen who decided to go broody at the same time is at least coming off the eggs every couple of days to eat, drink and empty. This other hen had bagged one of our two hen houses to do this, but her philosophy seems to be better for self preservation.
I think that my Gold Brahma will need a lot of feeding up once she has finished brooding, but at least she was pretty well before she started.
I am keeping my fingers crossed!
Sandie

 

[lauralou]

I have a broody who will not leave the nest. She's a fabulous mother and I have used her to hatch eggs for me many times. I do pull her off the nest every day. Every day... I want to make sure that she stays healthy. I just get in the habit of pulling her every evening when I come home from work. She eats, drinks, does her business, and runs screaming back to the nest.

Goofy broody hens!

 

[elmo]

I think you did the right thing. A hen can go without food for a while, but not without water.

Sometimes they don't want to poop near their nest. As you discovered, it seemed to help to move your hen a bit farther away from the nest to get her to drink and poop.

 

[calicokat]

I take mine off everyday too, for about 10 minutes.

She gets out and runs around (gets chased by the others). poos, eats some grass, & maybe a little dust bath.

However, she is in no hurry to go back to the nest. I have to chase her each day then put her back

But then I put a little bowl of food and water just under her beak, close up the big dog crate/brooder house and tuck her in a quiet, dark corner of the barn till tomorrow.

So far, she's still sitting on all 8 eggs, and seems to be doing good.

 

[pgpoultry]

Good luck to all of you with excessively broody hens, clearly it works out for most in the long run. My Gold Brahma hen remains almost glued to her eggs and I am hoping that any chicks hatch out sooner rather than later for her sake. I will take pics. if that is the case!
Sandie