Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[lwiese58]

OK, are you feeding or have feed/water where she can eat and drink without leaving the nest?

Thank you for bringing this up. The first 2-3 days it was outside the nest box... me thinking it would encourage her to get out. But I read something on here from someone saying if they didn't come out, it might be necessary to set some in the box for her. So I put a few grapes and some water in with her, which she went right for. But then seemed to lose interest. Yesterday I removed those, and placed all where she could see it, but have to get up. She didn't. That's why I brought her out. Again, I have been more concerned about her legs than anything, but maybe I don't need to be?

 

[PD-Riverman]

Thank you for bringing this up. The first 2-3 days it was outside the nest box... me thinking it would encourage her to get out. But I read something on here from someone saying if they didn't come out, it might be necessary to set some in the box for her. So I put a few grapes and some water in with her, which she went right for. But then seemed to lose interest. Yesterday I removed those, and placed all where she could see it, but have to get up. She didn't. That's why I brought her out. Again, I have been more concerned about her legs than anything, but maybe I don't need to be?

OK, question-----why would she come off the nest if she is being fed on the nest?? That will/can cause her to poop in the nest which can cause her nest to smell like poop/urine. I Hatch 100's of broodies, Never putting the feed and water close to her nest and I never see or smell poop/urine in their nest. If I was you. being it smells bad I would quickly change her nesting straw/etc(as long as you are not in the last 3 days), put her eggs back in, move the feed and water to the other side of her pen so she has to get off to eat/drink/poop/etc. Then """I""" would Leave her 100% alone---just checking her food and water. If you will pour her feed in a pyramid shape gently---then you will be able to see when she has gotten off to eat because the pyramid will be torn down.(being she is by herself).

Listen, she is yours, you can feed her, look under her anytime you want, etc, etc, etc Because she is yours. I have GREAT hatches never touching mine-----after the move to her private place. My Hens Do a Great Job alone! Good Luck

EDITED to add. I probably set more broodies than "most" on here, I have never lost a broody and have never seen one of mine that look unhealthy----I never take them off the nest--Never feed them in the nest--I just set them in their private place and leave them alone till I see her off the nest with her babies and they usually hatch 99.9 % of the fertile eggs "I" set under them.

 

[lwiese58]

OK, question-----why would she come off the nest if she is being fed on the nest?? That will/can cause her to poop in the nest which can cause her nest to smell like poop/urine. I Hatch 100's of broodies, Never putting the feed and water close to her nest and I never see or smell poop/urine in their nest. If I was you. being it smells bad I would quickly change her nesting straw/etc(as long as you are not in the last 3 days), put her eggs back in, move the feed and water to the other side of her pen so she has to get off to eat/drink/poop/etc. Then """I""" would Leave her 100% alone---just checking her food and water. If you will pour her feed in a pyramid shape gently---then you will be able to see when she has gotten off to eat because the pyramid will be torn down.(being she is by herself).

Listen, she is yours, you can feed her, look under her anytime you want, etc, etc, etc  Because she is yours. I have GREAT hatches never touching mine-----after the move to her private place. My Hens Do a Great Job alone! Good Luck

EDITED to add. I probably set more broodies than "most" on here, I have never lost a broody and have never seen one of mine that look unhealthy----I never take them off the nest--Never feed them in the nest--I just set them in their private place and leave them alone till I see her off the nest with her babies and they usually hatch 99.9 % of the fertile eggs "I" set under them.

Alright. I'll do that. Thanks.

 

[horselover1999]

So only one chick hatched. The other egg was cracked open and died on day 19. After that I moved the last egg into my incubator. It hatched on day 24. It is so cute and sweet!

 

[lwiese58]

So only one chick hatched. The other egg was cracked open and died on day 19. After that I moved the last egg into my incubator. It hatched on day 24. It is so cute and sweet!

It is precious! How good that you had the incubator!

 

[Catandherchicks]

So only one chick hatched. The other egg was cracked open and died on day 19. After that I moved the last egg into my incubator. It hatched on day 24. It is so cute and sweet!

Congrats! Did you put the chick back in with the hen?

 

[h2oratt]

Here is my broody in her cat litter box. Her comb is flopped over is that normal?

 

[h2oratt]

 

[nchls school]

-thread/26510#post_16872851"]So only one chick hatched. The other egg was cracked open and died on day 19 . After that I moved the last egg into my incubator. It hatched on day 24. It is so cute and sweet!


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[fisherlady]

Many hens have their combs shrivel a bit or loose color during brooding, as a single sign I wouldn't worry but I would evaluate her condition further....

Has she lost a lot of weight? Is her breast bone (keel bone) prominent?
Have you checked her for signs of parasites such as lice or mites?
Is she basically bright eyed or does she appear dull and lethargic?

If she appears good on her general condition check then she should be fine, if you feel she needs a boost you can supplement her food with some healthy and appealing treats such as fish, cooked eggs, chopped veggies, meal worms, fruit and hulled sunflower seeds.