Broody Hen

[Firsttimechicksxxx]

Hi everyone, this is my first ever time having a broody hen and am looking for some tips and advice. I would like some chicks from her!

At the moment she is in the nesting box sitting on her eggs (3) it is quite a small space with no easy access to food or water, I have just got back from holiday and so I don’t know what day of broodiness she is on but I reckon about day 2 or 3, any tips or advice is much appreciated!

 

[sourland]

Easy access to feed and water is actually not a good thing. She should leave the nest daily to eat/drink/defecate. Make sure the rest of the flock is not disturbing her and adding to her clutch. Good luck for a successful incubation/hatch.

 

[ChookaPete]

Just make sure that the main water and food sources are available. She will seek them out and replenish herself there - the exercise will do her good.

 

[Ywilliams64]

Hello, I have had 3 go broody at the same time and once I forced them from the nest, my Brownie was over her brood within a couple of days and a couple of days later I got my first egg. My Triplett was over her brood within 4 days and again received my first egg a couple days later. My issue is with Nugget, she is still broody and we are at almost a week. I have kicked her out of the nest twice and she doesn't go back to the nest, and will hang with her sisters. Nugget continues to puff up and cluck. Nugget has no choice but to roost, because I block off the nesting boxes. Nugget who is usually the last in the coop at night is now the first in the coop. Two days of blocking off the nesting boxes and she is still clucking and puffing up. Nugget is now in chicken jail and she made such a fuss with me retrieving her from the coop and is extremely agitated. She even went as far as singing the egg song. Should I be concern that this could be something else on top of the broodiness? Nugget is also my hen that stops my smallest hen from eating, so it doesn't bother me to put her in chicken jail. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.