How to feed a broody hen?

Have a broody hen that I haven't seen get up from her eggs to eat. Do I just put some feed in front of her or...
When they do get up it is usually quick so we just don't see them.

I will NOT put food or water next to a broody UNTIL chicks hatch. Pass on inviting other birds to harass her even more or rodents that might think it's a great place to feed. It stays in it's usual location and get collected EVERY night. If I am worried she isn't going out often enough, then I will boot her from the nest a couple times per day. I have never broken a broody hen simply by booting them.

Are you planning to give her chicks or let her hatch eggs?

Note that once they are indeed broody... their body goes into a sort of hibernation mode where it seems to slow down digestion and other processes making it easier to not defecate in the nest or have to leave as often.

Good luck! :jumpy:jumpy
 
When they do get up it is usually quick so we just don't see them.

I will NOT put food or water next to a broody UNTIL chicks hatch. Pass on inviting other birds to harass her even more or rodents that might think it's a great place to feed. It stays in it's usual location and get collected EVERY night. If I am worried she isn't going out often enough, then I will boot her from the nest a couple times per day. I have never broken a broody hen simply by booting them.

Are you planning to give her chicks or let her hatch eggs?

Note that once they are indeed broody... their body goes into a sort of hibernation mode where it seems to slow down digestion and other processes making it easier to not defecate in the nest or have to leave as often.

Good luck! :jumpy:jumpy
My hen has around 10-15 eggs under her because some are from other hens laying in her nest. She sits on all of the eggs
 
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So likely you'll have a staggered hatch if you didn't mark the original eggs and remove all the newer volunteers. Once chicks start to hatch, she won't stay on the eggs more than a couple days. All the newer eggs will be abandoned. Unless you rapidly move those eggs to an incubator, the embryos will chill and die.
 
So likely you'll have a staggered hatch if you didn't mark the original eggs and remove all the newer volunteers. Once chicks start to hatch, she won't stay on the eggs more than a couple days. All the newer eggs will be abandoned. Unless you rapidly move those eggs to an incubator, the embryos will chill and die.
My incubator right now is full. 42 eggs in the incubator since May 27th. I will probably just take the newer eggs in for eating
 
My hen has around 10-15 eggs under her because some are from other hens laying in her nest. She sits on all of the eggs
Get those new eggs out as fast as ya can to avoid the staggered hatch issue. Collect the added eggs nightly if you can. I completely agree with @ChickenCanoe I feed all my birds Purina flock raiser from start to finish with oyster shell on the side for active layers because I always have different ages like you will for a while and feeding separately just isn't feasible.
 
I put feed and water right in front of my Hen. I feed her Chick starter because she doesn't eat much. I scramble eggs and add peas too..I lift my Hen off the nest to encourage her to poop and stretch her legs. Each Broody is different and I do what is needed..
 
...I lift my Hen off the nest to encourage her to poop and stretch her legs.
Absolutely unnecessary.
I've never known a broody not to take a break when she feels she needs it. We don't know what is in their brain.
They aren't that far removed genetically from their jungle fowl ancestors to put the species in danger by failing to thrive just to raise a brood of chicks.
 

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