Broody Hen Thread!

[calichicken]

You should remove her and make her eat drink and poo. Oh but be warned the broody poo is nasty.

OK...I gave her some treats in her nest. I also tried to get her to move, but she just pancaked out on the floor

Minute I moved away...back in her nest she went!!! HELP!

 

[luvmypets]

OK...I gave her some treats in her nest. I also tried to get her to move, but she just pancaked out on the floor   Minute I moved away...back in her nest she went!!! HELP!

Pick her up and put her on the floor or where ever her food/drink is if she refuses this time then i would say leave her be. Cochins are very determined moms and she knows whats best. Honestly i think shes fine and she will eat/drink when shes ready.

 

[calichicken]

Pick her up and put her on the floor or where ever her food/drink is if she refuses this time then i would say leave her be. Cochins are very determined moms.

YES...she is!!!!!! Maybe I am worrying too much...I am sure she knows what she needs, but I got worried when she wasn't pooping...as silly as that sounds!

 

[luvmypets]

YES...she is!!!!!! Maybe I am worrying too much...I am sure she knows what she needs, but I got worried when she wasn't pooping...as silly as that sounds!

What would make you think that

As for not pooping shes not pooping because shes not eating.. LOL just sit back and enjoy the show. (i know how hard it is not to touch the eggs, Candle on day 7, 14, and 18)

 

[fisherlady]

I have a question for you experienced broody people. This is the first time my hen is hatching eggs and wondered if you have had concerns with eating/drinking/pooping? My girl has been on her nest...day 2 now and she gets up to move her eggs and adjust her nest, but hasn't really gotten up to eat and drink  She also has not pooped since Friday...nothing in her broody area...worried! Any insight appreciated!!

A broody's system slows quite a bit when setting but she still needs quality food and water, just in reduced amounts. If she isn't too wild or flighty I would carefully lift her from the nest and set her down near food and water. Hens still need a certain amount of stretching and moving to stay healthy. Most hens enjoy a quick dust bath also if it is convenient. It doesn't need to be every day, but should be every second or third. Remember that broody hens are sneaky and she may have been up for food or water and just didn't need to poo yet.

Offer a dish of tempting treats daily and keep her water within reach or offer it to her a couple times a day when she is on the nest. Check her weight part way through also and increase feed as needed.
When we get broodies off of their nests we try to minimize irritations to them by shutting other birds out of the coop and run until the broody is done doing her thing. We are fortunate though that our setup allows us to do that, I know it isn't practical for everyone.

 

[fisherlady]

Oops! I see luvmypets already answered while I was typing.

 

[luvmypets]

Oops! I see luvmypets already answered while I was typing.

Idc yours had much more details lol.

 

[calichicken]

What would make you think that

As for not pooping shes not pooping because shes not eating.. LOL just sit back and enjoy the show. (i know how hard it is not to touch the eggs, Candle on day 7, 14, and 18)

LOL...ok...makes sense! THANK YOU! I am sure I am stressing over nothing... yes...not touching the eggs! Right now she is sitting on her infertile eggs while I wait for my shipped eggs to be ready

 

[calichicken]

A broody's system slows quite a bit when setting but she still needs quality food and water, just in reduced amounts. If she isn't too wild or flighty I would carefully lift her from the nest and set her down near food and water. Hens still need a certain amount of stretching and moving to stay healthy. Most hens enjoy a quick dust bath also if it is convenient. It doesn't need to be every day, but should be every second or third. Remember that broody hens are sneaky and she may have been up for food or water and just didn't need to poo yet.

Offer a dish of tempting treats daily and keep her water within reach or offer it to her a couple times a day when she is on the nest. Check her weight part way through also and increase feed as needed.
When we get broodies off of their nests we try to minimize irritations to them by shutting other birds out of the coop and run until the broody is done doing her thing. We are fortunate though that our setup allows us to do that, I know it isn't practical for everyone.

Hi!
Thank you for your response! She is in her own broody area and food/water are within reach for her. She is our pet and VERY tame so she will allow me to pick her up and give her treats

I didn't realize the system slows down so she will need less! I am used to her being a little piggy and pooping all over the place....LOL! Who ever thought you would miss cleaning up poop

 

[abserbean]

My girl is a super determined broody, I think an EE/cochin mix. The first go round this year, I was worried and took her off the nest every other day and fed her treats to keep her healthy. She didn't lose any weight during her set, and hatched out healthy chicks. The second go round, I let her do her thing, but still gave her food and water every day in the nest. She would get off about every third day when left on her own. Sometimes two days in a row, sometimes went four. At the end/ lock down, she went five days in the nest, with just me giving her water and some chick feed or scrambled eggs. She did not poop in her nest, but she wasn't eating much. Her chicks are now two days old, she has them out and about, and she still didn't lose any weight this hatch. So at least in my (limited) experience, they know what they are doing, and she did just as well when I left her alone. I would make sure your hen is drinking, it is so hot right now. Good luck with your broody girl! They are so much fun, I love watching my hen with her chicks. The funniest thing to me is that her last hatch, 13 weeks, are still in the run/coop with her and the chicks, and are terrified of the babies! So funny, they are almost full grown, but will run from those chicks in a heart beat.