Our First Hatch

[scrapingran]

I just read the article on broody hens vs:incubators for hatching eggs. It has a lot of good information in it. I have an Ameracauna hen that went broody on me in the beginning of November. Thanksgiving week she hatched her first chick. There were eight eggs, but only four hatched and survived. My husband and I decided to let nature take it's course with the hen and the chicks, and she has done an excellent job of rearing the chicks and introducing them to the rest of the flock. She isn't laying, but that is fine with us since she has done such a good job with the chicks. I do have a question, though. I was careful to get food and water to her while she was sitting on the eggs, but I have noticed that she doesn't look as sleek as she did before she went broody on us. Her feathers are rougher looking, and her favorite thing to do now is eat. She had a bout of the nastiest diahrrea after the chicks hatched that went away after a day. Any ideas?

 

[gabrielle1976]

I have my very first broody hen sititng on eggs now so I dont really have any answers Im just hopeing I can move this up top of the list so someone who does know will see it.
Also try the old fashioned broody hen thread here in this section some where.

 

[BetterHensandGardens]

She won't lay for awhile, at least until the chicks are old enough to take care of themselves in her opinion - her primary job now is being a mother and ensuring her chicks survive. Typically, while they're sitting on eggs, they will only get up to eat, drink, and relieve themselves very infrequently, consequently they lose body condition. She probably just needs time to eat and get back in condition after sitting on and hatching the chicks.