broody hen not eating or drinking - is this OK?

[Gonda]

I have a hen sitting on eggs since April 14th so just over two weeks. I moved her from the nest to an enclosed area in the coop (a large dog kennel) on the 27th as she had gone off the nest a few times and another hen went into her nest. I put a small box in the kennel with shavings for her, and a container of food and water and there is still a bit of room for her to get up and move around. I don't see any evidence that she's eating and she's maybe touched the water a little, but not much as it's still pretty clean after 3 or 4 days. No sign of poops anywhere. She makes clucking sounds and seems content to sit there. Is this not eating or drinking a concern? I just hope she's not depressed because I moved her. She's still in the coop with the other chickens around her. Am I doing OK?

 

[Cindiloohoo]

Normal behavior.

 

[jossanne]

Yep, totally normal. Every time I went out to check on my broody, who hatched out one lonely only chick yesterday, I would hold out a handful of feed for her to eat. She was happy to eat out of my hand without getting up. Then I'd hold the water dish so she could drink. Worked pretty well for her, the spoiled girl!

 

[card5640]

I always put a small bowl of water and scratch right near her, she eats without getting up every couple of days I pick her up and set her on the floor and she will poop HUGE and she will hop back to the nest.

 

[Kittymomma]

Quote:
That's what I do too. I don't worry if they go a few days without getting up, but longer then that and I intervene so they don't soil the nest. Depending on how small the kennel is she may not want to eliminate and risk having it end up in the nest. If that is the problem then she probably does need to be taken off for a forced potty break.

ETA: I put flockraiser or grower out not scratch and usually scramble my broody girls an egg every couple of days. They don't eat much when they're sitting so I like to make sure what they do get is high-value food, though sometimes I do sprinkle a bit of scratch on top of the feed to kind of get them started.

 

[BlackBart]

Thats what I do, some eat, some don't, but they have the choice if it is in front of them.

 

[card5640]

I have noticed that if I give my sitting hens scrambled eggs every other day they look healthier, redder comb. less feather loss and start laying again quicker.

 

[gumpsgirl]

Although this is normal behavior, you need to try and coax her to eat. I had a broody that just about died a year ago for this same reason. I was up past midnight on Easter (something I won't ever forget) syringing water and vitamins into her beak and trying to get her to come back to me. She was severely dehydrated and half dead when I found her this way. After that incident I won't ever let my broody's not eat or drink anymore. If I end up with a stubborn one, she gets tomatoes and strawberries, along with a little sliver of meat every day for protein. I also offer scrambled eggs and yogurt. Make sure you keep some water close by for her so she won't have to move if she's that determined

What I would do at this point is go out and remove her from her nest very carefully. Set her down in the yard by some food and water. That way she will have a chance to use the bathroom and stretch her legs. Be careful because she has been holding that poo for a while now and believe me, you DO NOT want to have her explode on you.

Once she looks all hot and bothered and is ready to go back to her nest (and has had about a 5 minute break), take her back and let her situate herself on the eggs. Sometimes they just need a little push in the right direction to take care of themselves.

 

[Gonda]

Quote:
Thanks everyone! I did as suggested here. I took her off the nest and put her in the coop next to the feeder. She seemed a bit weak on her legs at first but did start pecking at the food. Then suddenly she started cackling as if she was about to lay an egg, and you're right, within about 5 minutes of being off the nest, the explosion happened, and whew!!!! STINK!

I've scrambled some egg for her and will give her a few more minutes of freedom.

It's great being able to get advice within minutes!!

 

[card5640]

My coop is about 50 feet from the house if I am outside I can tell if the broody has gotten off the nest cause boy oh boy does her poop stink!