my first time brooder wont leave the nest of eggs for going on four days now

Pretty much covered above.
I would expect a broody hen to poop in that time period. She has either done it away from the nest without you being aware, or you've got a possible health problem. You need to watch her until she poops when you next take her off the nest. Once you seen her poop, then that's a sign that she's okay.
I would add, when you lift her off the nest carry her a few yards away to feed her.
Broody hens go into a trance. I do not know what triggers the trance on and off. What I have found is some hens wake up more readily than others. You need to make your hen stand and walk when she's off the nest.
Broody feeding can be another area where one can easily get caught out.
Broody hens here tend to do the same routine. They get off the nest (be that carried off or by their own volition) and then they want to eat. Once they are fully awake, (the eating seems to help trigger the trance off switch) they poop. It stinks.
Most here will try and dust bath next.
The important bit is once they've done the basics they return to eat more. I know of keepers that have removed the feed once the hen first leaves the dish, or whatever.
Not letting the hen return to feeding can lead to underweight and less healthy mums.
Hens with chicks don't get a lot to eat for the first couple of weeks so the second go at the feed is important.
 
OK, Ill try again to take her off and let her squat off the nest for a bit. I am a bit worried about her simply because she had the crook neck issue and has acted a little dense. For instance it took a long time for her to find her way back into the house at night from being on the porch all day. I have had to relocate hens on eggs for fear of predation but not once has it been successful. Mine just dont like to be moved and they dont recognize their eggs once I move them. I am just so worried this little one will stop sitting. I dont mind helping care for the babies if she fails at that but I do want her to brood the eggs to hatch.
 
hens will be hens, they will either do it or not, I have one that will sit the eggs for 2 weeks and she is done, so banded her and don't let her sit cause she won't finish it, even shut in will room to get up and stretch at 2 weeks she just goes and lays down by the door. The good broody I thought she wasn't getting off the nest and yes she was but was a mad dash when she didn't think anybody could see her, put a cam up and sure enough she was getting of the nest even if it was hurried took her about 5-7 minutes was all
 
I'm not saying that a miswired hen won't commit suicide but I've never seen it. I'm not calling anyone who claims to have had to pull a hen off of a nest a liar either. I just don't want a hen like that (if they even exist) reproducing her kind.
All I'm saying is why after millions of years of setting hens successfully raising clutches of chicks without human intervention, I would like to know when the mutation occurred that told them never to leave the nest for food, water, defecation and a dust bath?
I've never seen it with well over 50 setting hens successfully raising clutches without dying. They sit tight in a trance and sometimes for more than a day so if people aren't sitting with them around the clock for days on end, they'll miss their excursion.
Do yourself, your hen and her clutch a favor and ignore her till it is time to count chicks.
 
Last edited:
Took her off the nest and placed her out on the deck. She stood up for a bit and tried to clean up the broken egg yolk off her feathers. She did not eat or poo out side but I did clean out her nest and found two large, dry poo turds. None of the eggs seem to be developing yet but she hasnt been on them that long. Two of her eggs that that she laid early in her laying period I gave to another broody a week or so ago and they are developing so I feel like these should also be fertile. Time will tell. Anyway, at least I feel better that she has now seen she can get off the nest and her eggs will be there when she returns. She voluntarily returned to the nest, I didnt have to bring her in. Thanks to everyone for your encouragement.
 

New posts New threads Active threads

Back
Top Bottom