broody quit after 4 days

[flowerchicks]

My broody hen, silkie/cochin cross, went broody on Saturday. It's the 2nd time she has gone broody, the last time lasted a couple weeks, with me trying the whole time to get her to stop. Now, after just 4 days of sitting on 4 eggs (3 of which were developing

) she quit. Now she isn't looking good at all. She seems very weak and a bit out of it. Her wattles are normally mullberry, but are pale. I was giving her water this week so I know she was drinking. I dont think she was eating, there were no poops in the box. I am worried. If she isn't acting more normal in the morning, is there anything I should do for her?

 

[digitS']

It looks like you had fairly high temperatures in your part of the world over the weekend. Do you think that may have been a problem?

The poultry specialists tell us that anything over 85° is stressful to a chicken. Different breeds have different tolerances to heat but a cochin cross wouldn't be a hot-weather type, I'm sure. Even the leghorns, that are studied endlessly by academia, seem to come under heat stress quite easily.

The recommendations, beside the obvious ones of shade, ventilation, and easily available water, include electrolytes and vitamins. You can find a packet of these things at the feed store. It takes a little math to figure out how much to put in their waterer but this may be of help, now and thru the summer.

Here's Wishing You the Best of Luck!

Steve

 

[flowerchicks]

Thanks for replying. It has actually been unreasonably cool where I live, the daytime temps are in the 70's to low 80's. Plus, the coop is not enclosed, it is wire on 3 sides so I am not worried about them over heating. But, after she got off the 4 eggs she sat on for 4 days, she started up again... unfortunately for the 3 developing eggs she left. I have water (with electronics and vitamins) right next to her, the food is right below her. I guess she will get off the nest to eat, right? I just would hate for all the work she put into plucking her tummy bald to go to waste