Quote:Originally Posted by Opa
On this point i have to disagree, i think since the broodiness has been mostly bred out the logics of it has disappeared too. I had my first broody hen die from constipation that i didn't catch in time because i didn't watch and she would NOT get off the nest. I would rather have lost the would be babies than my hen. 
My next broody was a feed mill bought orpington, she brooded but i tried not to intervene and i almost lost her as well. I gave it a few days and still no eating drinking or pooping...... So i tossed her out and boy was she having issues trying to "go"! So every day at around the same time i tossed and as soon as she did her business i let her back in. Not only did the hen live, but it was a successfull hatch
Long and short, each bird is different and you can easily tell a broody poop. If the bird isn't pooping, she isn't leaving ( unless she is pooping in the nest, but that's a whole other can of worms!) Perhaps age has something to do with it as well, since mine were barely a year old?
But i do strongly agree with the removing of the hen and chicks because even the sweetest hen can go into a killing rage at another hen's babies!


My next broody was a feed mill bought orpington, she brooded but i tried not to intervene and i almost lost her as well. I gave it a few days and still no eating drinking or pooping...... So i tossed her out and boy was she having issues trying to "go"! So every day at around the same time i tossed and as soon as she did her business i let her back in. Not only did the hen live, but it was a successfull hatch

Long and short, each bird is different and you can easily tell a broody poop. If the bird isn't pooping, she isn't leaving ( unless she is pooping in the nest, but that's a whole other can of worms!) Perhaps age has something to do with it as well, since mine were barely a year old?
But i do strongly agree with the removing of the hen and chicks because even the sweetest hen can go into a killing rage at another hen's babies!
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