Help I think my hen is broody!!!

[Chquinta]

Ok so I made the mistake of opening the wire kennel cuz I have noticed she hasn't popped in there so I thought maybe I let her out and she will go back in when she is done pooping eating and drinking well she went back to the old nesting box not the one with the eggs in them. So I tried to get her out and she took off like a bat from u know what. So now I'm scared cuz I know I'm gonna have to put her back but not sure if it will stress her out from me chasing her and trying to put her in the kennel that she won't be broody anymore. Anyway I spent probably a good 30 mins getting her back in the kennel she was mad trying to escape but then saw the eggs and settled but then I had to put the food and water back in cuz I'm not letting her out again well at this point she doesn't like me when I get near the coop she starts going crazy and I just hurry put the stuff in there and then close the door and I move far away from the kennel and she's just there finally she settles on the eggs and I just left. I'm not doing it again it's to much for both of us.

What I do want to know is don't they have to poop everyday will she just give up and poop in the far corner away from the eggs if she knows I'm not letting her out anymore. She has the food and drinks so I assume she will eat and drink when she wants? Right?

 

[nchls school]

Ok so I made the mistake of opening the wire kennel cuz I have noticed she hasn't popped in there so I thought maybe I let her out and she will go back in when she is done pooping eating and drinking well she went back to the old nesting box not the one with the eggs in them. So I tried to get her out and she took off like a bat from u know what. So now I'm scared cuz I know I'm gonna have to put her back but not sure if it will stress her out from me chasing her and trying to put her in the kennel that she won't be broody anymore. Anyway I spent probably a good 30 mins getting her back in the kennel she was mad trying to escape but then saw the eggs and settled but then I had to put the food and water back in cuz I'm not letting her out again well at this point she doesn't like me when I get near the coop she starts going crazy and I just hurry put the stuff in there and then close the door and I move far away from the kennel and she's just there finally she settles on the eggs and I just left. I'm not doing it again it's to much for both of us.

What I do want to know is don't they have to poop everyday will she just give up and poop in the far corner away from the eggs if she knows I'm not letting her out anymore. She has the food and drinks so I assume she will eat and drink when she wants? Right?

I had to lock one of my silkies in a small cage to prevent her interfering with my hens that have chicks. She laid eggs in one corner and a few days ago she went broody. The place where she poops is only six inches from the nest. Don't worry. When your hen needs to go she will. Cleaning up after a broody hen is fairly easy. One big pile each day and it's easy to scoop out.

 

[Chquinta]

Ok that's sounds good but I'm not sure if she will let me near her without going crazy. I just don't want to stress her out and she stop being broody.

 

[ToxicLily]

Chicky (my hen who was broody last year) would refuse to leave the nest when i let her ou 1 time per day to poop. So I would have to physically lift her n take her to the front yard where there was a dirt patch. I would time myself to only allow one to two minutes (i also would leave the eggs partially covered with the towel i had placed under them the edges actually reached) In that time shed poop and make a giant squawk noise, take a mini dust bath and then be done with it. I would then carry her back in or she would walk with me back to the cage (we kept the cage in my room but to each their own). She would automatically take back to sitting. It may take a couple days getting used to but she will get there.

 

[Chquinta]

Well my broody is still setting but I'm concerned that she is not getting up to poop. I see no poop in the kennel and not sure if she is eating or drinking I had to move her food cuz the other chicks were sticking the head in and eating it. If I let her out I'm afraid she won't go back in and I'll have to chase her and it took me an hour to get her back in but I don't want her to die from not pooping or eating and drinking. I candles 3 of the 10 eggs she actually let me get them she fluffed up and pecked once or twice but was very good. Anyway the eggs show blood veins and I can see dark blob, the dark brown eggs were a little harder but I did she some veins and black blob thing so is that good. It's day 5 I believe I put them in on Friday the 15th.

 

[nchls school]

Well my broody is still setting but I'm concerned that she is not getting up to poop. I see no poop in the kennel and not sure if she is eating or drinking I had to move her food cuz the other chicks were sticking the head in and eating it. If I let her out I'm afraid she won't go back in and I'll have to chase her and it took me an hour to get her back in but I don't want her to die from not pooping or eating and drinking. I candles 3 of the 10 eggs she actually let me get them she fluffed up and pecked once or twice but was very good. Anyway the eggs show blood veins and I can see dark blob, the dark brown eggs were a little harder but I did she some veins and black blob thing so is that good. It's day 5 I believe I put them in on Friday the 15th.

From what you describe stop worrying. The eggs are good and the hen is being a good broody hen. My hens do not eat much when they are brooding. Why no poop I have no answer, but nature will take care of that. Leave her in the cage. Relax and all will be fine. I know it is hard, but your hen will be able to do a better job if she is left alone as much as possible. While this is very true I have a hard time not peeking our checking the eggs even though I know I'd have better luck if I just let the hens alone. But this I learned the hard way-when the eggs are due to hatch make yourself not look until the hatch is complete. Doing so will result in damaged eggs that will have chicks dying because they are unable to peck their way out. One look under the hen while the eggs are hatching will often result in the hen getting upset and protective, crushed eggs, and a lot of disappointment.

 

[Chquinta]

Ok thanks I'm very worried reading all the forums that say this and that and do this but don't do that. So it's kind of hard but I under stand should I try to candle all of them at day 10 to make sure all of them are viable or just let them be.

 

[nchls school]

Ok thanks I'm very worried reading all the forums that say this and that and do this but don't do that. So it's kind of hard but I under stand should I try to candle all of them at day 10 to make sure all of them are viable or just let them be.

What kind of chicken is she? If she's a smaller breed I'd leave her alone. You know the eggs are developing so why not be surprised. There are instances where interference is needed. If you smell anything from the nest that might mean spoilage; candle and discard those that are bad. If she is a big broody watch for broken eggs. Some of the bigger hens can be very clumsy. But overall, I candle once to be sure they are developing and then leave them alone. I AM CLUMSY so I don't handle eggs and small chicks any more than I have to. Your hen has only eight eggs so there probably is plenty of room. Sometimes I have had broodies with 15 or more eggs to begin with. Those I do candle a bit more so bad eggs can be removed to make more room for those that are good. I like to wait and see what and how many hatch; in a small way like waiting for a child to be born.

 

[Chquinta]

Well she was giving to me so not exactly sure on here they said she is an mix EE breed. She has 10 mix eggs some from her and her sister and the others from 2 of my red sex link .

 

[Chquinta]

That's her on the top left the white chicken and those are the other girls I have eggs from that she is setting on and that's the rooster.