Oh no I’ve got a broody hen what do I need to do?

[Chicken-lovebirdchihuahua]

Did you get them from your local vet ? Are they for chickens ? If so, put a few drops on her skin between her neck and her back. Here’s a video that will demonstrate it to you.

no they actually didn’t have drops but they did have power and it is like old algae and I think it will work but thanks so much for the video

 

[bobbi-j]

hello the reason the title says oh no is because I just recently hatched some chicken eggs and of course now is when professor snow feathers decides to go broody so I’ve hatched eggs before but always in an incubator so I have no clue what to do with a broody I gave her some food and water in the coop but I can’t close it off because my hens lay in there and sleep in there also if you know any good articles about helping broody hens I would be delighted to see it! Thanks

Do you WANT her to hatch chicks for you? If you do, you really don't need to "help" a broody. They can hatch and raise chicks with minimal interference from us. Some people will section off a portion of their coop for their broodies to keep the other chickens from laying in their nest and adding to them. That doesn't work for everyone. When I've had a broody in the coop, I draw a circle around the eggs with a Sharpie so I know at a glance which are hers, then remove any donations every day.

Whether or not I separate my broodies, I make sure they can get off the nest to eat, drink, dust bathe and poop whenever they want. I don't feel right about locking one up and only letting her stretch her legs when I can get to her. You don't want to put food and water where she can reach them from the nest. She needs to be able to get off the nest to do that or she may poop on the eggs, potentially killing them.

If you don't want her to hatch eggs, you need to break her.

 

[Chicken-lovebirdchihuahua]

Do you WANT her to hatch chicks for you? If you do, you really don't need to "help" a broody. They can hatch and raise chicks with minimal interference from us. Some people will section off a portion of their coop for their broodies to keep the other chickens from laying in their nest and adding to them. That doesn't work for everyone. When I've had a broody in the coop, I draw a circle around the eggs with a Sharpie so I know at a glance which are hers, then remove any donations every day.

Whether or not I separate my broodies, I make sure they can get off the nest to eat, drink, dust bathe and poop whenever they want. I don't feel right about locking one up and only letting her stretch her legs when I can get to her. You don't want to put food and water where she can reach them from the nest. She needs to be able to get off the nest to do that or she may poop on the eggs, potentially killing them.

If you don't want her to hatch eggs, you need to break her.

I do want to hatch her eggs how can I get her off the nest without getting her off forever she just flares up and clucks if I get close I’m afraid if the waters not near her she will not drink

 

[bobbi-j]

I do want to hatch her eggs how can I get her off the nest without getting her off forever she just flares up and clucks if I get close I’m afraid if the waters not near her she will not drink

Let her be. Broodies don't like to be messed with. The best thing you can do is leave her alone and let her get off the nest on her own to eat and drink. She's probably doing it when you're not around anyway. That's how broodies are. When they're not confined, most broodies will "disappear" for a few weeks. They are very sneaky about where they hide their nests. I believe this is and instinctive thing they do to protect their nests from predators. They don't like to be seen getting on or off the nest. I have had many broodies and have never had one die of dehydration or starvation while setting.

 

[Chicken-lovebirdchihuahua]

Thanks so much!

Let her be. Broodies don't like to be messed with. The best thing you can do is leave her alone and let her get off the nest on her own to eat and drink. She's probably doing it when you're not around anyway. That's how broodies are. When they're not confined, most broodies will "disappear" for a few weeks. They are very sneaky about where they hide their nests. I believe this is and instinctive thing they do to protect their nests from predators. They don't like to be seen getting on or off the nest. I have had many broodies and have never had one die of dehydration or starvation while setting.

 

[kokosmom2]

My broody isn't broody anymore...yay. Three days in the broody buster was all it took and she's back out in the yard with the other chickens