Dead broody hen!? *update*

[Smeamers]

We had a hen that went broody a little over two weeks ago, so we moved her to our empty meat bird tractor. We put it on fresh grass with some food and water, and made her a nice nest out of a rubbermade tote and some straw. She was sitting on 10 eggs. It appears as though she starved/dehydrated. Is this possible? We never saw her get off the nest or even turn the eggs for that matter, but I just figured she did it when we weren't around. A couple of times I lifted the tractor so my daughter could crawl under. She hand fed and watered her because I was worried. At the same time I kept telling myself to trust her instincts. Can a chicken actually let itself die in an attempt to brood a clutch? I'm going to go back out there and have one of the kids crawl under and see if they can rouse her, but it doesn't look good.

 

[debilorrah]

Some broodies never leave the nest. To avoid what happened to you, I usually put food and water right under their nose at least once a day.

 

[Lollipop]

Not likely she starved, if you were hand feeding her. Generally they have a good since of self preservation, even when broody. Must be something else going on. Never saw that in 53 years breeding fowl.........Pop

 

[Cackling Hen]

That is really weird If you were feeding and giving water she did not die from starving Hmmmmmmmare you sure is has passed away? What makes you think she has passed?

 

[Higins00]

Did she have enouph air? What was the temp outside? Is she gone for sure

 

[Lollipop]

Quote:
Well there, everyone has different experiences. I never had a broody "never leave the nest", out of hundreds of broodies over the years. Some will not leave for 2-3 days, but the evidence is a turd the size of a tennis ball. I always place food and water out of their reach, so they can stretch and eliminate.......Pop

 

[Attack Chicken]

I have 2 broodies right now and one will hiss scree and raise heck when someone goes near her. My other one will not make a sound and sit dead still looking like she isn't even alive. They sit still like that hoping you or a predator wouldn't see them.

 

[gaz131]

Does not sound like you know for sure its dead, but one thing hens don't like is a change in environments, the stress can be very high for them, plus not knowing where the food or water is, but as you said you have been feeding her, you would of been better marking the eggs under her and leaving her where she was, if she was broody she would of kept the other hens away, plus the reintroduction of her and chicks would be very difficult, never mind trying to get her back in to the flock after being away so long, she would be in for the run around and a good beating from the other birds,which would be even more stress for the bird again, and pain. Why did you move her ????

 

[Smeamers]

Yep, she's definitely dead. I started the incubator right after I wrote the first post, but the eggs under her were very cool. A few of the eggs had a bit of a funk, but they were also the ones that had her bodily fluids on them. They're in the incubator right now, so we'll see. They're on day 16.

She had plenty of fresh air as we cut away almost one whole side of the tote as a big doorway. Twice in the last 10 days my daughter hand fed her. We tried again last night but she didn't seem interested and acted very weak. We never saw any broody poops as evidence of her getting out of the nest.

Well, now I know that it's possible for a hen to not take good enough care of herself while broody. I'm kicking myself that we didn't feed her more, but I was both trusting her instinct and worried that we'd encourage her to not get up.

I'll let you all know if any of the eggs hatch.

 

[Smeamers]

Quote:
We moved her because that is what I had read here to do. I thought it was to protect her and her chicks from the other hens.