Getting broody off nest to eat

[SarahIrl]

OK, first time broody, on eggs, won't get off nest to eat or drink. I turfed her out this morning and she went a bit ballistic first she stayed down, brooding the floor, then trying to run back to regular run, then diving for broody house, but eventually did what she needed to do and went back to empty nest in about 15 mins. She hasn't moved since. That's ok, but she seems half asleep, like in a trance. Is this normal? My other broody is sitting on eggs too, but is very alert, and cajoles te other hen in with her to sit on the eggs while she goes off for a drink, etc, about four times a day.

 

[92caddy]

Ive had some that when they go broody, they will sit tight for 3 or 4 days and not get up at all, they will when they are ready. Ive had some that get off the nest everyday. So each hen is different. Ive had some look like they were in a trance as well. I think she is ok. Good luck wiht them.........

 

[7&8]

Just wondering what a general consensus is on removing broodies from their nest to encourage them to eat, drink, and etc. This is my first natural hatch and hers, as well. I am feeling pretty cautious about inadvertently discouraging her from the task at hand: sitting on her nest.

My LF Barred Rock is by herself in an 8X4 coop with all of the comforts. She did not leave the nest today - at least there is not a speck of poop visible; feed dish undisturbed; waterer clean as a whistle - as if no hen had been anywhere near it!

I'm not worried yet, but how many days might they go? I'm of a mind not to intervene. I will absolutely make sure she has clean water each day, and fresh feed every couple of days so she wouldn't have to eat stale crumbles/pellets. But because she's a first timer, I'm just a little hesitant to disturb the already disturbed bird...

If I do cave in and take her off the nest at some point, should I also feel entitled to return her to the nest? I did do this on day one when I found her off the nest and the eggs cool.

I don't want to be a henabler!!!

 

[FireTigeris]

I have one that's been sitting w/o break for four weeks- I havent seen her get up but she must be at least drinking...

 

[Sir Birdaholic]

My hens jump off the nest every time I feed, but my turkeys,... you couldn't pry them off of their nest with a crowbar. The hens won't starve themselves, they'll leave the nest when they're ready.

 

[7&8]

Thanks, Fire and Sir Bird!!! I'll sleep better tonight

FireTigeris - I checked out your nice photo albums! Thanks!

 

[Sunny Side Up]

I've seen my hens employ their excellent instincts in deciding how to care for the eggs they incubate. When the weather is cool they flatten themselves into pancakes to keep the egglings warm, when the weather is warmer they sit up taller. Once I even saw a hen standing up over her eggs during a summer afternoon. They also time their breaks accordingly, taking more time off when the weather is warm.

Therefore I never bother my broodies, but leave them to listen to the little voices in their heads and do what they're told. I figure that they aren't expending much energy so their dietary needs aren't as great. I do check on them 2-3 times a day, and would notice if they looked unwell. Sometimes there will be a day when they don't seem to eat/drink/poop much.

One concern is mites, lice, and/or ants. If you have the opportunity it's helpful to dust them & their nest with insecticidal powder before they begin their set. You can also dust them after they've begun. Broody hens are literally "sitting targets" for these pests. I wonder if the instances you hear told of broodies who starved themselves to death were really hens who were eaten alive by pests.

 

[92caddy]

Very well said sunny.

Alot of people fuss over their girls and Im not saying there is anything wrong with that, but the hen knows what she is doing and does it well. Shes better then any bator out there.

 

[Shiloh Acres]

I often put a little dish of feed and water near the hen. I also often check under them, and when I raise them up I can feel food in the crop. Seems mine tend to eat scratch grains while brooding, and it's easy to feel the grains moving around in there. I have some that go into a trance too.

The only hen I ever lost brooding had decided to set in a cactus thicket. I think she pierced herself and a horrible infection has set in before I found her. In fact, it was the smell that led me to her. She was sitting on about 35 eggs. I guess the others kept coming in and laying under her, or maybe she found an old stash of eggs. Poor girl, I tried to save her but she had lost flesh by then and died of the infection.

I have others I NEVER saw off the nest in over a month, that didn't die. Maybe they did come off briefly, is what I think. Some geese set even tighter, and I've seen them trancelike too. Right now I have one I had to build a cage around so she can be undisturbed and I put food and water in with her.

 

[elmo]

She might be coming off the nest at a time when you don't spot her. I kept my three broodies in separate pens last spring, and I rarely saw one off the nest. I did see the telltale sign that they had come off, though. There was a huge smelly broody poop in each pen each day.

If you don't have your broody separated from the rest of the flock, it may be harder to notice, but if you look carefully you might be able to spot the broody poop. It's much bigger than a normal dropping.