Setting Hen not eating

[MikeG]

This is our first go with a surrogate broody hen and she is in the ZONE. We're on day 6 and she rarely leaves the nest box and has eaten very little. Although, we have experienced one of the giant poo explosions that we've read about. We have her contained in a 4x5 open bottomed dog crate with room to stretch her legs. We keep fresh layer crumbles and water in there as well.

Should we be concerned about her not eating?

I keep thinking that they've been doing this alot longer than we have and knows what to do but this lady seems to be on a mission!

Thanks!

 

[Julie08]

make sure she can reach the food and water without getting off the nest, offer her some treats. There is not much else you can do.

 

[Chicken0Boy]

Well, to be honest the max time a hen gets off a nest is 15 minutes!

So, how long is she getting off her nest? But if she is not eating or drinking at all i would be worried!

 

[Kittymomma]

Bring her a good high protien treat like scrambled eggs every day and make sure her water is in easy reach. Some hens are so into their broody trance that they neglect themselves badly.

 

[brendapa]

I would go out and pick her up 1x a day and give her her favorite foods. Pasta & yogurt, sunflower seed hearts, salmon or tuna cat food (wet), scrambled egg and water. After 5-10 min. she would go up the ramp back to the nest. She always had food & water but I made sure she ate. The last 4-5 days, I did not disturb her or the eggs because I knew she had been eating & drinking something. And who knows, she may have been up at dawn because i sure wasn't!

 

[MikeG]

Kittymomma,

While nobody is constantly monitoring her, we did see her turning eggs (amazing!) and readjusting. We assume she's not off the nest because the food hasn't been touched. Made her some rice and broccoli (she loves) and put it in front of her yesterday afternoon. Nothing as of 0900 and my wife just made some scrambled eggs. She has an all-out buffet.

If she doesn't come eat, I'll physically take her off the nest this afternoon per Brendapa's suggestion.

Thank you all very much!

Mike

 

[crazyhen]

I took my broody off the nest once a day , dipped her beak in water and put feed in front of her that was high in protein either scrambled egg or cat food mixed with crumbles. She would eat a bit ruffle her feathers and most of the time poop,

dust herself and run back to the eggs. She hatched 3 of the 4 eggs I gave her. If I did not move her she stayed in the zone and did not budge. Good luck with your broody. Gloria Jean

 

[MikeG]

Thanks for the info crazyhen. Great News. My wife just called to advise she had mixed some cracked corn into the scrambled egg and its all gone already. Should we free-choice the egg or limit to one/day and leave the crumbles & water in there all the time?

And I guess we shouldn't be worried about her becoming an egg eater now unless I see a skillet, whisk and burner in there?

 

[Kittymomma]

If she's looking pretty run down I'd do the eggs 2x a day and keep the crumbles out free choice. If you have any extra fruit that can be good for them too--high water and sugar content, don't go overboard with that though or she could get the runs. You're right, cooked eggs don't make egg eaters, you just don't want to feed them raw because that can cause problems.

 

[goldnchocolate]

I took my broody off of the nest every evening when I was in the coop collecting eggs, filling the hanging feeders and changing the water. I would pick her up, against her will

, and carry her to the water bowl. She would get a drink, eat a little, do a GIANT poop and then head back to her nest. Good luck with your broody!