Broody without food/water

[starrmar006]

I have a hen that ran away... I think, and was wondering how long can a chicken or broody chicken go without food and water (it's been really hot and cooling down tomorrow then it gets hot again 90 degrees F)

 

[Kevin_87]

I have never heard of hen running away, without joining a neighbor flock. Is that a possibility? If not you may want to consider a predator problem.

 

[Lady of McCamley]

I have never heard of hen running away, without joining a neighbor flock. Is that a possibility? If not you may want to consider a predator problem.

Oh yes...a broody hen often "runs away" to find a nice, quiet, isolated nest spot.

Many owners think they've been killed or gone for good, then, low and behold, here they come back 3 weeks later with a string of chicks in tow.

As to how long a hen can do without food or water, some hens, when they brood, can eat and drink once a day or every other day. Some are very dedicated to the nest.

I've worried about my girls on the nest during our hot spell (we've been unnaturally warm in the upper 90's for about 2 weeks now), however, my hens are troopers and are bringing forth hatches even in the very warm weather.

She may have a nice source of water somewhere her nest is.

Hopefully she is fine. I always worry when they go off and find a lonesome nest about some predator getting them. For that reason, I make sure mine are locked in broody hutches as we have too many raccoons and hawks around.

Keep us posted.
LofMc

 

[Shezadandy]

And she may be sneaking in to get her water/feed when you're not there. We've got a little pond on our property so we get all kinds of things coming in to drink in this sort of weather- she might have something like that scoped out.

Hopefully that's the case and you get a beautiful batch of chicks -- though if you don't have a rooster- she may be sitting on unfertilized eggs in vain.

 

[starrmar006]

She had a batch of chicks already this year we do have a rooster... we don't have a pond or source of water around for about .3 miles down a steep hill to a fast, deep river she might have just found a neighbors pool or kitty pool or she is eating and drinking the neighbors chicken feed and water.

 

[starrmar006]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/hen-suddenly-lost.1265574/#post-20332591

 

[MissChick@dee]

I watched a YouTube video just last night. A woman gave up looking for her hen. A month later here she shows up with 10 babies. All healthy and happy. Chickens have been chickens longer than they’ve been pets. Praying that she’s one of those gals that’s gotta do what she’s gotta do.

 

[starrmar006]

I watched a YouTube video just last night. A woman gave up looking for her hen. A month later here she shows up with 10 babies. All healthy and happy. Chickens have been chickens longer than they’ve been pets. Praying that she’s one of those gals that’s gotta do what she’s gotta do.

Same

 

[starrmar006]

It just poured rain so I think that she can get water from just about anywhere the only thing I'm worried about is her getting cold and her eggs dyeing