My Bantam has gone Broody?

[josie555]

Please can anyone tell me, will a broody hen get off the nest to go a feed or do I need to lift her off. I only have hens so there will be no chicks. Each time she has laid I have taken the egg away. she also sits on other hens eggs. Is there anything I should be doing?
Any advice would be appreciated.
Nicki from Devon, England.

 

[sourland]

Most hens will get up once a day to eat, drink, and defecate. If you have a wire cage or an area where you can lock her up away from the nest site you can try to 'break' her broodiness. Some hens will try to set in excess of the normal 21 days, and it can be debilitating to them.

 

[BantamFan4Life]

Welcome to BYC! I'm glad you joined us!

 

[josie555]

Thank you for your advice, I have taken her out of the nest and shut the door of the nest box area so that she will eat and drink. I will do it each day for some of the time but cant shut the coop up all the time as the other bantams may need to lay. Is there anything else I should be doing?

 

[drumstick diva]

If you want chicks, you could buy 2 or 3 fertile eggs and put them under her so she isn't sitting for nothing. She will sit and hatch them as her own. Otherwise you could try & break her of broodihood. Put "how to break a broody," in the search box for instructions. If she continue to sit with or without fertile eggs - you must put her out at least twice a day so eat, drink and poo.

 

[josie555]

thanks drumstick diva, will make sure and turf her out to eat, i do not have enough room to have more bantams. Nicki from England where are you from?