My broody hen is getting THIN!!! Broody PIC!!

[gabby3535]

I have a very broody hen, who has been sitting on 6 unfertile eggs for about a week now.
I am currently awaiting delivery of 6 fertile eggs for her to hatch.

I take her off the nest at the minimum 2 x day......to eat, drink and poo.
I also have her layer pellets and water just outside the nestbox she has chosen as her own.
But each time I pick her up, she is thinner and thinner and thinner!
And once the fertile eggs arrive, we have at least 3 more weeks of this behavior!

Will a broody actually starve to death???

Today I bought her 3 big containers of mealworms........thinking the extra protein can only help her.
Does anyone else have any ideas as to what I should do for her?
I certainly don't want her fading away..........................

Any advice?

 

[Panhanle RIR]

She wont starve she might look thinner because they pick their feathers to line the nest you can see some feathers in the pic

but if your worried give her an extra treat now and then

 

[WingingIt]

You can also put a small container of food/water within her reach in the nestbox. I've only had one broody so far and she did fine, but I've read on here that others keep food/water closeby as an extra precaution.

 

[joe17]

Dont take her off of the nest!!! SHe will do it as she pleases!!!!!!!!!!

 

[vnploveschickens]

I took my broody off the nest 2x daily to eat, drink, and poop. I'd bring her a small bowl of rice/scrambled egg/yogurt, which she loved! Luna, my buff orpington first time broody, seemed to enjoy the stretching and preening too. She'd run out of the coop screaming, take a quick dust bath, while getting fresh air and sunshine, then run back in and jump back in the nest. It took about 5-10 minutes.

All you can do is try. Good Luck!

 

[Kittymomma]

I put food and water close by, but not in the nest. I also bring them a scrambled egg every other day and with the ones that just don't want to get up I put water up to their faces once a day or so.

ETA: I don't take them off then nest unless they stay on for more then two days.