one of my bourbon red hens may be seting her eggs HELP!!

[medan]

one of my hens may has started setting I wonder will she eat or drink during the setting period or will she just sit there on the eggs what should i expect please answer

 

[Randy]

Yes she will need access to food and water. She will leave the nest for only short periods to drink or eat then get back on her eggs.

 

[medan]

she is in a small coop I dont use anymore should i put food and water in it to make it easier for her

 

[Frosty]

I had a hen that would NOT get off of her nest, so I put food and water in front of her where she could reach it.

 

[medan]

last night was the first night she was setting the nest she was off it this am out feeding seems like she does it at her leasure is that normal

 

[kuntrygirl]

Quote:
Yes, I would suggest that you do that. That is what I do so that t hey don't have far to go to eat and drink.

 

[medan]

she sat he nest for one night then back to the roost now shes back in the nest I think maybe it was a dry run for her shes up to 10 eggs n 12 days so wil see any advice take in mind they are free range birds and they are going to stay that way they like it

 

[kuntrygirl]

Quote:
Is the nest in a safe area? Where is it? I am having a VERY difficult time with my Bourbon Red girls who have decided to lay eggs all over creation. I am pulling my hair out!!!!

My advice and it's probably too late..........Have a special place for them where they can go and lay eggs? Otherwise, you will have baby turkeys inside of your house like I do. It's a pain!!!!

 

[medan]

its safe the door is lke 4 feet off the ground and its a 4 foot by 8 foot coop maybe 4 foot of head space i have another one thats laying under a stump on a hill side faceing south a opossum had been eathing her eggs the opossum has gone to it's final resting place so beware of egg eating critters I lost 5 asrolope hens to a racoon this year it is also in its final resting place

 

[kuntrygirl]

Well my girls did the same thing before the finally decided to go broody 100%. They would sit on their eggs for an hour or so and then go to roost somewhere else. That's normal. You will know when she is ready to sit for good. She won't leave her nest. Just make sure that her food and water and close so that she doesn't have far to go. I wish that I had a secluded area for my girls to go like you do. I hope that this helps. If not, let me know and I will try to help as best as I can.