Cottage cheese for broody hen. What about grit?

[MINNIEMOUSE21]

Hi all.
I have a broody hen whos been sitting on fertilized eggs for 1 week. now. We are all of a sudden having problems with mites. I'm still new at this thing but trying to take care of the problem (whole other story). The issue is my broody hen wont get off the nest ! Every morning I put her out in the run to eat , dust bathe (since we now have mites) and make this incredibly stinky poop. When i reopen the coop door she runs inside and wont budge for the rest of the day. I have started to hand feed her some crumble 2 times a day, she doesnt eat much. Her comb is pretty pale and give her water because its so hot here in california, she drinks abou 1/3 cup a day (having a sudden heat wave).
whew!

My question is can i give her some cottage cheese and if so what about grit? Shes not outside in the pen to get the grit herself? what can i give her to eat since its so hot and shes not getting grit outside?

Forgot to add, she was broody for about a week and a half before i gave her the eggs to sit on.

 

[centrarchid]

The cecal poop produced each day by a broody is singular, big and stinkier than average. Feeding her lots of cottage cheese may be a problem if she is lactose intolerant. She will come off the nest each day on her own in her own time.

The external parasite issue is something better addressed by someone else.

 

[MINNIEMOUSE21]

The cecal poop produced each day by a broody is singular, big and stinkier than average. Feeding her lots of cottage cheese may be a problem if she is lactose intolerant. She will come off the nest each day on her own in her own time.

The external parasite issue is something better addressed by someone else.

Thankyou. I havent given her any yet? Just wasnt sure.
Im trying martins permethrin right now for the mites. I only see them around her vent. The vent is very scabby, so i put a little vaseline. Im hoping this thing kills the mites as i have been itchy all over, myself. I had no idea chickens get mites. What a wake up call. This site has been very helpful.

 

[centrarchid]

Does she have a good place to dust bath? If yes, then consider spring some of the permethrin there so you do not have to stress her by handling. Control over the mites may be slower but will take place fast enough.

I like my broodys to get some good dark greens in addition to a feed that does not have as much calcium as a layer diet.

 

[MINNIEMOUSE21]

Does she have a good place to dust bath? If yes, then consider spring some of the permethrin there so you do not have to stress her by handling. Control over the mites may be slower but will take place fast enough.

I like my broodys to get some good dark greens in addition to a feed that does not have as much calcium as a layer diet.

Yes! she dust bathes only in the morning as that is the only time she will go outside. ( i do have to put her though). She likes when I help her and ive noticed she will dust for a longer time. and she makes alot of little clucks. I will buy some powder as i only have spray right now. Is it safe to eat because she eats while bathing, is that weird?? Should i start her on the chick starter then? i saw some posts where posters give it to their hens when they have chicks?

Sorry so many questions. Im very new to this. We rescued 4 chickens from someone who raises them to produce fighting roosters, so they are all pretty flighty and mean to each other. (they were all kept in their own cage)This is the only hen that i can keep with one of the other hens, because she is very docile. First day I tried to put the four hens together they all fought and had to be separated, except her. She flew on top of my shoulder to get away from them. I am thinking of giving the other 3 hens to a family member who has a huge property so they can free range.

 

[centrarchid]

I bet what appear to be eating is when she is billing soil to create what she can readily work into her feathers. If correct, then she is not doing much in the way of eating while bathing. I have not had to treat broody hens for mights beyond what is done with dust bathing sites.

Could you post a pictures of your rescues?

 

[rosemarythyme]

I've never dusted a broody but mites can become a massive issue (and they're biting you too!) so really do need to find a way to dust her and the nest she's on, best you can. If she's going to a specific area to dust bathe in the morning, I'd liberally powder that area, and when she goes to bathe, see if you can dust the box (avoiding eggs if possible) as well. Should be ok even if she eats a bit of the dust bath mix (mine like to do it too *shrugs*)

The scabbing is likely due to the mites biting around her vent area.