Just curious how many of you...

[shelleyd2008]

just let your hens set their eggs? What I mean is, I see a lot of posts on here about people taking the hen off the nest to make sure she eats and drinks, how many of you do this? I've never done it, and I've yet to lose a hen because of broodiness. I have given hatching mamas a drink on the nest before so they don't have to get off, but that's as far as I've gone. So my question is if you remove the hen to eat and drink, or leave her to her own devices?

(mods please move if this is not the right forum

)

 

[HorseFeathers]

Us! We successfully hatched out 9 chicks with a seasoned broody, though she'd never hatched before.

 

[TexasVet]

I have a LOT of hens, so my broodies wouldn't leave the nest for fear of another taking over. It was heat stroke hot here this summer, so I made sure the hens got off the nest long enough to eat and drink several times a day. They seemed to know that I'd guard the nests until they returned.

If they're in a separate brooding area, I just leave them alone. But this summer I had 5 hens all go broody at once, and there wasn't enough room in the broody pen for all of them.

Kathy, Bellville TX
www.ChickenTrackin.com

 

[TXmom]

I live near Kathy, and I did the same thing... We had triple digit temps much of the summer, so I knew the eggs wouldn't cool if I got my little Broody Silkie off the nest once or twice a day to make sure she ate and drank plenty of water.

 

[Year of the Rooster]

I make sure mine get off at least once a day. If I'm not sure then I feel their crop. If there is some food in it, then I won't bother them or if it is hot out I may take them off again to get a drink.

 

[ThePolishPrincess]

We don't brood often, but when we did, I'd take my girl of the nest when I was outside so she could eat, drink, and dust bathe. After, she would come to me when she was done and actually peck my feet when she wanted me to put her back on the nest. It was rutine, though regardless, her comb turned orange from lack of nutrition.

 

[DTchickens]

Water and feed for the hen has been enough for me over the years.. A hen will leave once a day to eat and drink, so i never thought i had to interfere much.

 

[canada-goose]

I leave her alone but make sure she has food fairly nearby. "Mama knows best".

 

[M To The Maxx]

We don't even have a broody!!!!

 

[chickensducks&agoose]

Our B.O. Esther went broody on Thanksgiving, in vermont, and hatched out her only baby on X-mas. I took her off every day, and replaced her with a HOT, half filled milk jug, with some water squashed out, so it was softish, and more shaped to fit over the eggs. That way I didn't worry that they were going to be cold. I'd keep her locked away from the eggs for like 30 minutes, to make sure she ate and drank enough.. It was a serious pain in the butt, but I was glad to see the chick when it was all over.