Broody hen

[thischicken]

Last night we put two day olds hnder our broody speckled sussex and she has been letting them under her abd protecting them from the other ladies but she still seems broody doesnt want to leave the nest to eat or drink yet. Is this normal or should we add more chicks? Any advise would be great we have never even had a broody hen before so this is all new

 

[chickens really]

Leave her..Did you also remove the eggs?..
She might need a nudge to get moving. More details to your situation is needed...

 

[thischicken]

Yep we removed all the eggs and the other ladies have changed to an outside box to lay as of today, I’m assuming she warned them out. We did lift her and her 2 chicks out when the other ladies where out free ranging so she could be alone with them, she poked around for awhile talking the the chicks and then went right back in to her nest and we had to put the babies back in with her which she willingly let underneath herself. We did put a feeder and water in the nest so she and the chicks would have easy access. I just assumed once she accepted babies she would start moving about and leaving the nest.

 

[chickens really]

Yep we removed all the eggs and the other ladies have changed to an outside box to lay as of today, I’m assuming she warned them out. We did lift her and her 2 chicks out when the other ladies where out free ranging so she could be alone with them, she poked around for awhile talking the the chicks and then went right back in to her nest and we had to put the babies back in with her which she willingly let underneath herself. We did put a feeder and water in the nest so she and the chicks would have easy access. I just assumed once she accepted babies she would start moving about and leaving the nest.

Nope she will keep them close a day or two and then bring them out once they are ready to keep up with her. Sounds like Momma is doing a great job...

 

[thischicken]

Ok thanks!

 

[aart]

Curious how long had she been broody?
Hope she gets with the program soon.

 

[RWise]

Can the chicks get back in the nest on their own?

 

[thischicken]

She has been broody for 3 weeks maybe more? And the chicks are inside a small house that is off the ground but has a solid ladder and we added side rails lol but they have enough room in there to venture out from under her that I don’t think they will try to leave until she shows them how hopefully. The coop is right out our backdoor and we check on them frequently, we only have 5 hens and they are all very very tame lol.