Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[fisherlady]

My broody hen seems to be doing a good job and is much smarter than I gave her credit for. I check the nest this morning - no mites and all eggs look great. It was cold (in the 50s) and she jumped right back in. In the evening when it is hot she spends more time out and I'm not worried about the eggs getting cold.

However, I'm worried now that she might have sour crop. When I pick her up the crop is always large and fluid filled. Is this normal for a broody hen? She shakes her head more than what I think is normal. Yesterday when she was drinking water she put her beak in the bucket but didn't seem to be actually swallowing any water. She is eating though; ate quite a lot yesterday. Does their crop empty more slowly when they are broody?

Honestly I can't say I've paid particular attention to the crop when my girls have been broody... but I can understand your concern since she is head shaking and acting a bit different.

I frequently will give our broodies a bowl with goodies and a bit of yogurt as a treat, and there is ACV in their water all of the time, so it may be that the conditions have never all lined up enough to cause a problem. As a precaution you could try giving her some yogurt as a treat for a few days and watch for further changes. Read up on sour crop over in the emergencies section and see what other minimally invasive type therapies you can try. I am encouraged by the fact that she is continuing to eat well though...

 

[little]

chicken tender i love your photo.i fed mine watermellon yesterday and got some great photos too.how old are your chicks they look about the same as mine.11 days old

 

[Johnn]

My broody hen seems to be doing a good job and is much smarter than I gave her credit for. I check the nest this morning - no mites and all eggs look great. It was cold (in the 50s) and she jumped right back in. In the evening when it is hot she spends more time out and I'm not worried about the eggs getting cold.

However, I'm worried now that she might have sour crop. When I pick her up the crop is always large and fluid filled. Is this normal for a broody hen? She shakes her head more than what I think is normal. Yesterday when she was drinking water she put her beak in the bucket but didn't seem to be actually swallowing any water. She is eating though; ate quite a lot yesterday. Does their crop empty more slowly when they are broody?

What is she fed on? Broodies can get a slow/sour crop because their crop isn't doing much when they are eating so little. The best way to tell is to make sure all food and water in removed at night and then you check her first thing in the morning to see if it has emptied. It may just be that when you pick her up, she has had some food and water and its in her crop . If she does have a sour crop, I'm happy to help you as I've helped someone whos broody had one a while ago and its doing fine now!

 

[Johnn]

Momma and chicks enjoying some dried mealworms on the coop floor.

Cute! Take it the silkies give up stealing them??

 

[poodlechicks]

My broody hen seems to be doing a good job and is much smarter than I gave her credit for. I check the nest this morning - no mites and all eggs look great. It was cold (in the 50s) and she jumped right back in. In the evening when it is hot she spends more time out and I'm not worried about the eggs getting cold.

However, I'm worried now that she might have sour crop. When I pick her up the crop is always large and fluid filled. Is this normal for a broody hen? She shakes her head more than what I think is normal. Yesterday when she was drinking water she put her beak in the bucket but didn't seem to be actually swallowing any water. She is eating though; ate quite a lot yesterday. Does their crop empty more slowly when they are broody?

Does the crop smell bad? Sour crop usually does. If she has a sour crop, avoid giving your hen anything acidic (ACV, acidic foods), because it will worsen the situation. Someone posted that you take food and water at night and check the crop again in the morning. I think this is a very good idea to assess what's going on. Let us know how it turns out tomorrow. I ( and many others, I'm sure

) can help you with that if need be. Good luck!

 

[bobbieschicks]

My broody hen seems to be doing a good job and is much smarter than I gave her credit for.  I check the nest this morning - no mites and all eggs look great.  It was cold (in the 50s) and she jumped right back in.  In the evening when it is hot she spends more time out and I'm not worried about the eggs getting cold.

However, I'm worried now that she might have sour crop.  When I pick her up the crop is always large and fluid filled.  Is this normal for a broody hen?  She shakes her head more than what I think is normal.  Yesterday when she was drinking water she put her beak in the bucket but didn't seem to be actually swallowing any water.  She is eating though; ate quite a lot yesterday.  Does their crop empty more slowly when they are broody?

Yes. Their crop empties slower and in very large stinky poops.

 

[bobbieschicks]

chicken tender i love your photo.i fed mine watermellon yesterday and got some great photos too.how old are your chicks they look about the same as mine.11 days old

My chicks are now two days old.

 

[bobbieschicks]

Cute! Take it the silkies give up stealing them??

For now. Silky girls are sneaky though when they want to be mommas.

 

[chicknshrimp]

Im sure the answer to this is hidden in this thread somewhere but I can't seem to find it... I have a first time broody (2 yr old Buff O) on 7 eggs, they were candled and living at day 14. They are now at day 21, they'll be day 22 tonight. I can't hear any peeping and haven't seen any chicks but I haven't touched her. At what point should I stick a hand under there and check? I don't want to disturb her but don't want her sitting if they've died.

Thanks!

 

[bumpercarr]

Im sure the answer to this is hidden in this thread somewhere but I can't seem to find it... I have a first time broody (2 yr old Buff O) on 7 eggs, they were candled and living at day 14. They are now at day 21, they'll be day 22 tonight. I can't hear any peeping and haven't seen any chicks but I haven't touched her. At what point should I stick a hand under there and check? I don't want to disturb her but don't want her sitting if they've died.

Thanks!

Most first timers miscount the days. The day you put them under her is day 0, not day 1. Make sure you counted correctly and then check the eggs on day 23 or 24. Sometimes they can be delayed if the weather isn't cooperative.