Broody's 2nd Day -- Poop in Nest?

[Sunny Side Up]

She sure sounds like a typical broody. They seem to get in a Zone, a Broody Buzz, like some sort of deep Zen meditation. Their combs can look pale, but they should still be alert when you approach them closely, growl a bit or more at you, try to peck you when you reach towards them. Some hens are more fierce than others. With some you need to wear protective gloves, I've had others who were more mild. But you should still be able to see a difference between the Broody Buzz and a weak, ailing apathetic hen.

When is she due to hatch? I have a hen on my patio whose eggs are due tomorrow. Last night I held one of her eggs to my ear & heard the chick cheeping & could feel it moving in the shell.

I have another hen that began setting 3 duck eggs I placed under her last Sun. This Sun I will add 3 chicken eggs to her clutch. Then if all goes well in 3 weeks more she should hatch a mixed family of ducklings & chickies!! That's double

!! And they just happen to be due to hatch on ... Mothers' Day !!!

 

[PatS]

Most of my non-broody Buff Orpintons do the velociraptor thing when they are on the nest and I enter to collect eggs, change the water, add food to the feeder, or clean up a bit. Now that this one is in full-broody-mode, she is much less aggressive. She kind of half-heartedly raises her hackles and up they stay for her little field trip out of the nest. She has "crazy eyes" throughout the whole disturbance. I think the hormones have hit her HARD.

When I pick her up she is a little "sweaty" feeling, like a sick kid. It takes her a few minutes to stop pancaking the ground, but when she snaps out of it and it taken to the water, she will drink. After she's had her drink, she'll walk a little and eat and then poop. Then another bit of food and water and a little walk, then she's waddling back to the nest in her daze.

Her pooh was more normal yesterday, there wasn't much; but yesterday is the first day she's really eaten more than just a few bits of food. I think if I didn't intervene, she would not eat or drink.

I am concerned that she is SO out of it (we're both first-timers), but my chicken friends just say that all chickens are different. I'm afraid this whole experience is hard on the poor girl. I hope she can survive motherhood!

Her due date is May 2nd or 3rd.

 

[chicks4kids]

I take my broody out once a day at noon to stretch her legs, eat, drink, and poo. She decided she didn't want to get out of her nest to go poo so we had to intervene and physically remove her everyday, just once, to encourage her to go. It's worked out wonderfully. And she is due to hatch tomorrow. I think she was so determined to sit on those eggs that she just didn't want to get up....

I also give her little drinks throughout the day also food just to make sure she has enough to sustain her...when she didn't really want food, I just threw some scratch in there...there's no way a chicken can turn down scratch! It's something, and may help ease your mind about her making it the 21 days

Good luck with yours!