Broody Hen Won't Walk/Can't Stand Up

[ValerieJ]

I sure hope you are right. She just woke up and tried to stand but couldn't. I haven't been able to get her to eat or drink hardly anything this evening.

I'm assuming you have checked her over really well for an egg stuck in her crop and any sort of parasite. Mine have never had either happen yet so I don't know exactly how they act when that happens. But I do get broody chickens and they act a lot like that. The one I allowed to sit on and hatch chicks didn't eat for a couple weeks. She lost a lot of weight, but everything I've read said that's normal.

 

[1adybug]

She sounds weak, it could just be the heat and the fact that she has lost weight to broodiness...but I would keep her in a cool place with access to fattening, energy rich foods (hard boiled egg yolk, oatmeal, crushed almonds, etc.) and plenty of cold clean water. Also, you could humor her with a nest and a fake egg. Poor girl.

 

[ccollins4jc]

I'm assuming you have checked her over really well for an egg stuck in her crop and any sort of parasite. Mine have never had either happen yet so I don't know exactly how they act when that happens. But I do get broody chickens and they act a lot like that. The one I allowed to sit on and hatch chicks didn't eat for a couple weeks. She lost a lot of weight, but everything I've read said that's normal.

Mine haven’t had those issues yet either. I will research some more and keep giving her extra TLC.