Gifts for broodies

[FenDruadin]

This is probably not news to those of you who have regular broodies, but this year is the first time I've had any that have sat for long. I have one in the pen sitting on a nest of eight and one who saved up her eggs for over a week and then disappeared. I thought she was gone forever until she came back one night to eat and then went back to her nest. It took me two weeks to find her nest and I don't have the heart to move her now.

ANYWAY--I've discovered that as much as they appreciate fresh water and food during their once-daily rest break, there's a gift they love even more:

Fresh straw or hay for the nest.

The first time was an accident--I was putting down fresh bedding in the pen and the broody hen began reaching out and pulling the fresh hay into her nest and tucking it under her. So I put a small flake near her and when I came out later, she had moved the entire flake of hay into her nest and was sitting about two inches higher and partially buried. Very funny! So just now I put a flake of hay near the broody on our patio (yes, she was on our patio and it took me two weeks to find her--that's how well hidden she is, under a bunch of brush) and when I looked out the window later, she was busily moving it all into her nest.

Finally, a way to spoil my broodies!! lol

 

[Goat_Walker]

My hens LOVE fresh hay! Ill have to pull up some pictures of my broodies who litterally bury themselves in hay. It just looks like a giant mount of hay and then you poke it and it quacks!

 

[duckyfromoz]

I have to agree with you iamcuriositycat Theres not much you can offer them while sitting- but fresh bedding is great. It also gives them something to do for a little while- all that sitting must be incredibly boring.
I completely cleaned out my night pens yesterday- removed ALL shavings and hay on the pen and in the nesting boxes. This morning when I went to let them out I found one particular girl almost completely hidden by hay in the nesting box. Im starting to wonder if this one is actually starting to go broody! Anyway- she had taken advantage of all the fresh bedding and straw and pulled it all into the nesting box. 8 inches of hay was carefully arranged around her - all I could see was her head and neck!