Is it normal for the broody hen to peck and scratch at the waterer and put water on food to feed her

[cocopop]

Is it normal for the broody hen to peck and scratch at the water dispenser in order put water on food to feed her chicks? The reason for my concern is that it would create a bad habit and cause coccidiosis for her and the chicks in the summer heat in there pen especially if they have poopy feet. Is it normal for the hen to provide water for her chicks as well. Has anyone seen this? Any advise would be appreciated.

 

[chickengeorgeto]

Is it normal for the broody hen to peck and scratch at the water dispenser in order put water on food to feed her chicks? The reason for my concern is that it would create a bad habit and cause coccidiosis for her and the chicks in the summer heat in there pen especially if they have poopy feet. Is it normal for the hen to provide water for her chicks as well. Has anyone seen this? Any advise would be appreciated.

It is normal for a brood hen to peck at food and water items. Especially at food items. She will pickup goodies in her beak and make a similar sound that a rooster makes when he is calling his hens to a particular juicy food item then drop the item for her clutch to eat or fight over. In my experience this "look here what I found" behavior only lasts for a day or two with liquids.

A hen is like a bull in a china shop once she has biddies to squire around. It is best to use a feeder and drinking fountain that she is unable to move, contaminate, or scratch in.

 

[gander007]

Sounds normal .....

 

[cocopop]

Thanks for the replies. I just haven't seen them scratch and peck at the water and put it down for the chicks to eat. I only seen it done with food. I just thought it was a bad habbit that my broody hen was picking up. It was going on for 3 days until I put them in a bigger pin and separated the food and water from opposite ends of the pen. I just didn't want her to keep making a wet mess with the water with dirty or poopy feet in the hot weather equals coccidiosis. My other broody who is a first timer is not doing it with the water.

 

[chickengeorgeto]

Thanks for the replies. I just haven't seen them scratch and peck at the water and put it down for the chicks to eat. I only seen it done with food. I just thought it was a bad habbit that my broody hen was picking up. It was going on for 3 days until I put them in a bigger pin and separated the food and water from opposite ends of the pen. I just didn't want her to keep making a wet mess with the water with dirty or poopy feet in the hot weather equals coccidiosis. My other broody who is a first timer is not doing it with the water.

I will try to draw up some plans for a chick brooder/nursery that helps solve the bull-in-a-china-shop syndrome most hens develop once they hatch off a clutch of chicks. It is also a good design to brood your incubator hatched chicks in.

I have used this brooder for both types of chicks. and you seldom loose a chick or even have one feeling a little under the weather if you'll use this pen.

In my opinion chickens don't develop "bad" habits. Developing bad "habits" is a uniquely human trait. Chickens only do things that come natural to a chicken's innate instinct. In this one important way chickens are superior to the human race. Sorry Dr. Spock and all the other armature animal psychologist floating around out there. You just can't shrink a chicken's brain down any smaller than it already is.

 

[cocopop]

I will try to draw up some plans for a chick brooder/nursery that helps solve the bull-in-a-china-shop syndrome most hens go through once they hatch off a clutch of chicks. It is also a good design to brood incubator chicks in.

I have used this brooder for both types of chicks. and you seldom loose a chick or even have one feeling a little sick if you'll use this pen.

That would be cool!