Broody Hen Not Standing? Has Chicks

[DustyNoods]

This is a new one for me.

My hen has been broody for well over 6-7 weeks. I kicked her out everyday and she always went back.
Finally last night I got her 4 chicks from TS.
She was grateful, purred at them instantly when I gave them to her (so sweet) and she does speak to them (although very little and quietly), but she will not stand up. At all.
Today I felt absolutely nothing in her crop, so I am assuming she has not been eating or drinking properly if at all these past couple weeks.
I feel terrible.. I should’ve checked her sooner. I just thought she was stubborn but now I think she has just lost her strength.
I force fed her some cat food I soaked in water and vitamin B (all I have right now)

What else can I do?

I may try to give her some scrambled egg tomorrow morning until I can go to the store for electrolytes.

 

[BDutch]

Poor chicken. I hope she pulls through. Maybe her instincts say to stay on the nest to keep the chicks warm?

You can make electrolytes yourself:

Homemade Electrolyte Recipe (for Chicks)​

• 1 cup warm water
• 2 teaspoons real honey OR molasses OR 2 teaspoons granulated sugar
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• 1/8 teaspoon baking soda

For adult chickens I think you can use ACV instead of baking soda.

 

[NatJ]

This is a new one for me.

My hen has been broody for well over 6-7 weeks. I kicked her out everyday and she always went back.
Finally last night I got her 4 chicks from TS.
She was grateful, purred at them instantly when I gave them to her (so sweet) and she does speak to them (although very little and quietly), but she will not stand up. At all.
Today I felt absolutely nothing in her crop, so I am assuming she has not been eating or drinking properly if at all these past couple weeks.
I feel terrible.. I should’ve checked her sooner. I just thought she was stubborn but now I think she has just lost her strength.
I force fed her some cat food I soaked in water and vitamin B (all I have right now)

What else can I do?

I may try to give her some scrambled egg tomorrow morning until I can go to the store for electrolytes.

A hen with newly-hatched chicks will usually stay on the nest for a bit before she comes out with the chicks. Some hens wait a few hours, some hens wait a few days.

If the chicks had actually hatched underneath her, they would need that time to dry off and fluff up and get ready to walk around. The chicks you bought are past that point, but the hen's instincts do not know that.

I would probably put food and water close enough that she can reach them from the nest. That will let the chicks eat and drink, and she might eat & drink too. You can also add water to chick starter to make a wet mash, and offer that for the hen and chicks.

I think she is likely to get up tomorrow or the next day and be just fine. If she doesn't, at least she and chicks can be cozy and eating and drinking while you figure out what else to do.

If you offer electrolytes, be sure to provide plain water too. Electrolytes can cause problems if the chickens get too much, and providing plain water is the easiest way to let the chickens decide what amount is right.