My First Broody Hen

[rainnotebook]

So I have my first broody hen! She's been toying with the idea for weeks, she'd sit on them for a few hours then get bored and get up and leave them for hours and hours. So I would go pick them up. I even tried leaving them over night and she would still get bored. Well weeks later she finally is sitting. She has been sitting on them for two days now and I think its going to stick.

I have questions though. What do I do to help her?? I'm trying to read posts and figure it out but it seems most of you know what to do to begin with. I don't even know if I'm supposed to move her to a separate cage now or later when the chicks hatch? If I move her now I only have the ability to split up the coop and run for her.

Do I make her get off the nest and eat? Or do I let her do it on her own? I just don't know the first thing about being a new broody hen's chicks grandma and I'm hoping you guys could help me!

 

[BrownEggFan]

Rainnote, I too just wound up with a broody hen and I've only had chickens for 3 months. I was given the suggestion to put her in a separate pen and that has worked really well. It's kept the eggs that are supposed to be under her there and the ones that aren't to be out. I've put food and water in with her, but she hasn't touched either one. I have started placing a small cup in front of her in the evenings with 2-3 tablespoons of yogurt and some wheat mixed in to give her some nourishment. Anyway, that's all I have to offer, but will be watching this thread for any additional advice from others who are more experienced than me!

 

[pgpoultry]

Hi,

It is better to separate of a broody hen from the others in her own facility however you can do this.

Place food and water in with her. Usually a broody will come off once or twice a day to eat, drink, empty and stretch their legs. They will do this until the eggs start to hatch (21 days or so) and then sit tight for about 2 days. Occasionally a broody hen will not leave her eggs and can (though this is rare) brood to the death. I have had one hen like this. I had to remove her (loud squawk) from her eggs to a dish of water and food out of sight of her eggs daily. Once there she would eat, drink and poop. I would then bring her back in sight of her eggs and she would go back quickly on to them. This behaviour happened in her first brooding. She is currently broody again and is coming off her eggs normally a couple of times a day to look after herself.

Generally interfere as little as possible and resist the temptation to lift her when the eggs are hatching,

Good Luck,

sandie

 

[BeccaB00]

After the chicks hatch move them and the momma to a seperate pen. Or any other chickens you have could injure/kill your chicks. we learned that the hard way

And the hen will get up and eat/drink on her own.
congrats on your first broody hen! Hopfully you'll have some lil chickipoos here soon!!