First Broody!! A few questions!

[Fourgirlsoneboy]

One of our silkie hens has decided to go broody (which I am greatful for as I have 25 silkie eggs in two bators and no more room)! I ended up making a small pen for her- do I just leave her alone? I actually removed 5 eggs from under her (the other hans must have been 'helping' her- lol!) so now she is sitting on 6. Will she ever come out and go to the bathroom? Should I try to take her out or just leave her alone? What do I do after the chicks hatch (how do I introduce them to the silkie flock?)? Thanks all!

 

[debilorrah]

Personally, I like to keep my broodies seperate because the other hens do donate to her cause. If she doesn't come out you will need to stick food and water right in front of her nose. You will also need to pick her up now and then and make sure her vent isn't clogged. I have one bird that when she is broody she doesn't move come hell or high water.

 

[karen71]

Listen to Debi she is a Guru ...
Broodies are great I had less issues with my broody then the incubator
I did take her off 1 x a day and she would do a HUGE STINKY poo . then I would put her back on ... she took care of everything but some I hear are nasty and you can't get then off -
but you definitely want to separate -
Good luck have fun !!!!!

 

[debilorrah]

I have been lucky enough that I have never seen a clogged vent. My one bird though would have HUGE piles of poop behind her. I had to clean it up - grody!

 

[cheeps]

I also have my first broody hen, a dark cornish...never thought about them not going to the bathroom...gross! Well now I know!

 

[happyhensny]

We just had our first broody. BROODYS ARE AWESOME! (I am shouting from the rooftops.

) After incubating, pasty butt, heat lamps, etc. Wish I had a slew of broodies. Coachie, our standard Cochin, had 6 eggs and hatched 6 eggs. My DD and I would go out once or twice a day and hold the food and water for her to eat after the first few days she decided she could get off to do her daily business. One afternoon we went out to feed her and heard the babies peeping, dried off and walking around. She now struts around with her little brood and I have not a poopy butt in sight to wipe.

 

[debilorrah]

Quote:
Oh they go to the bathroom! Right where they are sitting.

 

[happyhensny]

Coachie got up and went out to poo. Although when the babies did hatch I do not think she got off for a day or two - found poo in the nest.

 

[Cackling Hen]

Quote:
Oh they go to the bathroom! Right where they are sitting.

Iwent out to my girl this morning she has 4 new babies. Oh my it was soooo stinky I almost puked I grabbed it up with paper towles. Im gagging all the way to the garbage can and her broody box stunk for 10 min

Oh my my my

 

[debilorrah]

Quote:
Oh they go to the bathroom! Right where they are sitting.

Iwent out to my girl this morning she has 4 new babies. Oh my it was soooo stinky I almost puked I grabbed it up with paper towles. Im gagging all the way to the garbage can and her broody box stunk for 10 min

Oh my my my

Yup! Better to try and clean daily then find that after they hatch.