Broody Silkie

[Hensinutica]

I'm a little worried about my hen she has been sitting for days and I've not seen her off of the eggs at all. I check on her every morning and night my concern is if she is eating and drinking enough. I've tried to give her food and water but she rejects it. She has even rejected mill worms which I know she loves. This is my first broody hen and I'm not sure if this is normal. Oh and I have 2 laying Silkies could she be sitting on both their eggs? Thanks for any help.

 

[my spoiled chickens]

@Eggcessive @Yarmer

 

[my spoiled chickens]

* @Yard Farmer

 

[NatJ]

I'm a little worried about my hen she has been sitting for days and I've not seen her off of the eggs at all. I check on her every morning and night my concern is if she is eating and drinking enough. I've tried to give her food and water but she rejects it. She has even rejected mill worms which I know she loves. This is my first broody hen and I'm not sure if this is normal. Oh and I have 2 laying Silkies could she be sitting on both their eggs? Thanks for any help.

If a broody hen does get off the eggs to eat and drink, she will usually do it when no-one is watching.

I would start by feeling her crop to see if there is anything in it. If you do find food in her crop, you know she got off and ate. She might do it first thing in the morning, before you are up and looking, or she might do it later in the day.

You could just leave the food and water available, and hope for the best. Put the food and water far enough from the nest that she must get off, because you want her to exercise a little and you want her to poop away from the nest. If you find some food eaten, and a big broody poop, you will know she got up to eat.

If you find that she is not eating, or if you are worried, you can lift her off the nest and sit her by the food and water. She might sit there for a little, but then she will eat and drink and poop and then run back to the nest.

Broody hens do lose weight, but most of that is fat they stored up in advance for exactly that purpose. The egg-making organs also shrink and weigh less. So a certain amount of weight loss is normal and healthy.

 

[Debbie292d]

We raise silkies and used to just let the mom's do their thing. They get off the nest and come outside for about 1/2 hour every other day or so. They poop a giant poop so be warned, that's normal.

We now solely incubate. Too much hassle with ours abandoning the chicks at 4-6 weeks who are no longer allowed in the coop as even she'll peck them. We built grow-out pens/hutches for them as they can't join the coop until they're about 4-5 months old.

 

[Yard Farmer]

I'm a little worried about my hen she has been sitting for days and I've not seen her off of the eggs at all. I check on her every morning and night my concern is if she is eating and drinking enough. I've tried to give her food and water but she rejects it. She has even rejected mill worms which I know she loves. This is my first broody hen and I'm not sure if this is normal. Oh and I have 2 laying Silkies could she be sitting on both their eggs? Thanks for any help.

Okay. So what I would tell you first thing is if you're concerned about her eating and drinking, put a small feed and water dish in her nesting area.
Broody hens are very dedicated to nesting, so they may only leave the nesting box 2 times a day for 15-20 mins each time to eat and drink a little, along with relieving herself.
She sounds pretty normal, I don't think you have anything to necessarily worry about.

If your silkies are laying eggs in her box, she will put them under her.
So what I would tell you to do, is candle the eggs take out the fresh ones and leave the ones that are growing (assuming you have a rooster and have fertile eggs.) and mark the eggs that are alive.
The hens will continue to lay in her area if they have access to her, so if that is the case, you will have to check her nest every night to make sure she doesn't have any new eggs under her.

If you don't have a rooster, just take all her eggs and kick her out of the nesting area every day. If you let her sit, it can and will cause more harm then good.

 

[Yard Farmer]

* @Yard Farmer

Thanks for the tag.

 

[Eggcessive]

I use empty tuna cans to slip water and some egg or mushy chicken feed in front of them while sitting. They can be in a trance while broody, so I might even dip their beaks in it at first. But they usually get off the nest once or twice a day, and drink, eat a bite, poop, and possibly take a quick dust bath. If you are concerned, you could pick her up, and take her out into the yard. She will probably either take a break or run straight back to her nest. It might be a good time to check her body for mites or lice.

 

[Hensinutica]

If a broody hen does get off the eggs to eat and drink, she will usually do it when no-one is watching.

I would start by feeling her crop to see if there is anything in it. If you do find food in her crop, you know she got off and ate. She might do it first thing in the morning, before you are up and looking, or she might do it later in the day.

You could just leave the food and water available, and hope for the best. Put the food and water far enough from the nest that she must get off, because you want her to exercise a little and you want her to poop away from the nest. If you find some food eaten, and a big broody poop, you will know she got up to eat.

If you find that she is not eating, or if you are worried, you can lift her off the nest and sit her by the food and water. She might sit there for a little, but then she will eat and drink and poop and then run back to the nest.

Broody hens do lose weight, but most of that is fat they stored up in advance for exactly that purpose. The egg-making organs also shrink and weigh less. So a certain amount of weight loss is normal and healthy.

Thanks I appreciate the advice. I did candle them today and they are definitely growing but I haven't marked them I'll do that tonight when I tuck them in. Lol I know the other hen is laying and she's the only one sitting so I guess I need to separate her for now. Again thanks a lot.

 

[Hensinutica]

Okay. So what I would tell you first thing is if you're concerned about her eating and drinking, put a small feed and water dish in her nesting area.
Broody hens are very dedicated to nesting, so they may only leave the nesting box 2 times a day for 15-20 mins each time to eat and drink a little, along with relieving herself.
She sounds pretty normal, I don't think you have anything to necessarily worry about.

If your silkies are laying eggs in her box, she will put them under her.
So what I would tell you to do, is candle the eggs take out the fresh ones and leave the ones that are growing (assuming you have a rooster and have fertile eggs.) and mark the eggs that are alive.
The hens will continue to lay in her area if they have access to her, so if that is the case, you will have to check her nest every night to make sure she doesn't have any new eggs under her.

If you don't have a rooster, just take all her eggs and kick her out of the nesting area every day. If you let her sit, it can and will cause more harm then good.

Thanks a lot this is my first year with chickens I'm still learning you gave my a lit of great info I really am grateful.