Broody Hen Thread!

[TennesseeChicken]

How concerned should I be about my broody not eating/drinking? Should I force her to get up and see if she'll eat?

It's my understanding that broodies will only get up once a day to eat, drink and poop. So she probably is doing that, you just don't see it. I've only seen mine get out once since she's been broody.

 

[nova022]

Do you know anyone local that could give you fertile eggs? The owner of my local feed store was good enough to provide a dozen fertile for my broody. You might check Craig's list, too.

I don't know anyone local. My friend in VA will mail me BCM eggs but I don't know if they would get here in time and I would hate to waste them. I will ask the lady at my feed store about fertile eggs. She is always selling chicks and re-homing roosters for customers so I am sure she would know someone.

 

[texaschickmom]

It's my understanding that broodies will only get up once a day to eat, drink and poop.  So she probably is doing that, you just don't see it.  I've only seen mine get out once since she's been broody.

Thanks for the reply! This isn't first broody, so I'm a little worried. She's my little "pet" so I offered her some pellets by hand a few minutes ago and she gobbled them up but stayed in the best. It got down in the 30's this morning so she's not getting off those eggs.

 

[fisherlady]

I have a Buff Orpington hen that went broody a few weeks ago. I do not have a roo and so had no eggs for her and didn't know if I would have time to order hatching eggs. If she goes broody again how long would I reasonably have to order hatching eggs to put under her?

Ours sat for 3 or 4 wks before we put her 'for real' eggs under her. So you should have plenty of time to order or find eggs. Just watch her body condition if it is a number of weeks

How concerned should I be about my broody not eating/drinking? Should I force her to get up and see if she'll eat?

Like was already said, she is most likely getting out when you don't notice, but if you see that her body condition is deteriorating then do more to encourage eating, make sure it is close by and good quality feed, we began offering hand treats to our silkie after she had been sitting for a while to keep her condition up. We went with things like scrambled eggs, crushed peanuts and sunflower seeds (make sure they are the unsalted ones), meal worms and fish and yogurt.
Just offer her a variety to keep her interested but you can't force the issue.
Make sure her water is clean and close by, we also had Apple cider vinegar in the water.
If she really isn't getting up you will find poo in the nest that you may have to clean up to prevent contamination of the eggs.

 

[LONDON HENS]

How concerned should I be about my broody not eating/drinking? Should I force her to get up and see if she'll eat?

For my broody, I opened the door to here broody box at 4pm each day and she would jump out and drink, eat etc...But some of my hens last year wouldnt jump of so I just picked her up and put her on the floor and she soon gained interest in the food and ran around for 10-15mins before she wanted to get back on the egss!
In their brains the signals/hormones to stay on the eggs is sometimes stronger in some hens than others.
If your hen doesnt get of the nest you should pick her up. However how big is the area she is in? if she has access to a run she may be getting of the nest when your not there.
My broody hens are in dark boxes and so I know when I go at 4pm she hasnt been of the nest and I let her out.
Be sure though, you dont want to pull her of the nest if she has already been off it 2 hours ago for example.

 

[elsfieldchickens]

They are adorable!

x2

 

[nova022]

Ours sat for 3 or 4 wks before we put her 'for real' eggs under her. So you should have plenty of time to order or find eggs. Just watch her body condition if it is a number of weeks

Thanks Fisherlady. I am hoping she will go broody again soon. I would really like to let her hatch some babies.

 

[animal boy]

I and home today to find that my broody had given up on her eggs. now I have 12 eggs some of which look well developed and no incubator. Should I just discard the eggs? Should I try to put her back on the nest? I feel bad cause I wanted some easter chicks but with the weather not being the greatest I think that may have helped play a factor in her to stop sitting on the eggs. Also some of the eggs look and feel like they could hatch almost any day know. I need help fast

 

[Jharper]

I and home today to find that my broody had given up on her eggs. now I have 12 eggs some of which look well developed and no incubator. Should I just discard the eggs? Should I try to put her back on the nest? I feel bad cause I wanted some easter chicks but with the weather not being the greatest I think that may have helped play a factor in her to stop sitting on the eggs. Also some of the eggs look and feel like they could hatch almost any day know. I need help fast

Huh? Is she in the roost?

 

[animal boy]

Yes today was the 1st day I saw her on the roost in about 3-4 weeks