Broody Hen Not Leaving Nest

She is. Broodies are sneaky little critters. They'll get off for just a minute when you're not looking and eat, drink, poop and bathe. She's fine.

 

If this will help. I set 72 broody hens in 2015, and about 80 more the 2 year before that-----never had one to starve. And No I do not put water or food at their nest-----that's Not good. The hen is just setting---not moving like normal so it will not take as much food or water as usual.

 

You aren't seeing her leave the nest because you aren't meant to see it -- a broody will carefully move away from/back to her nest so as not to be seen by anyone to avoid potentially leading predators back to her nest. As @PD-Riverman said, you don't find dead hens on nests, because they DO get up and eat/drink/poo. Placing food or water near the nest will is more risk than reward as it brings the potential of a soiled nest from spilled feed/water and lessens the need for the hen to move away from the nest to expel waste.

 

Regardless of the posts of others, a broody hen (at least a good one) will stay on the nest for at least 4 days at a time. She will come off then only to defecate, eat something, have a sip of water and grab a quick dust bath. The smell of the huge chicken poo she leaves when she is off the nest is poof positive that she has left the nest to do necessary things.

 

No, if she is truly broody messing with her eggs might T her off but will Not break her broodiness. BUT Never add eggs to a broody unless ALL are replaced at one time----If you stick fresh eggs under her and she has been setting for a few days----you will create a staggered hatch---which is a Problem---you will probably have to put the latter eggs in the incubator to save them after she leaves the nest with the first hatch to take care of those chicks. I set All My Hens with the Eggs ""I"" collect---not what they just happen to flock on. If she is going to be with other chickens---I mark ALL the eggs I set her with so every day I can look under her and remove unmarked eggs so No Staggered hatch happens. Then All the fertile eggs will hatch at around the same day---then she comes off the nest not leaving other eggs that might hatch in a few days----makes your and her life easy.

One other thing is get in the habit of ALWAYS collecting every egg from every nest, every day----no matter if a hen is on a nest----get the eggs, then if a hen is going broody---if you want her to set---you can mark and set her with the eggs you choose and there will be no other eggs to deal with----because you collected them every day---LOL. If you do not want her to set----break her early---not weeks later---its easier and better on her health wise than setting for weeks. Search, Broody-breaker-cage or just ask.

 

Yes---as long as ALL are replaced at one time so one is not left to hatch early. How long has she been setting---if weeks---she might stay 3 more weeks to hatch them----then some hens will give up?? So you do what you feel with this one. In the future you will know what to do!

OK I re-read your first post----Sure put some fertile eggs under her----mark if she is going to be in the same pen with other hens. Remove all un-marked eggs daily from under her. Just be gentle----I do not throw them out the nesting boxes---ever---if you have to wear gloves and long sleeves to do this---be gentle. Good Luck