Should I force water to my broody hen?

[InNC]

I have an 8 month old black Bantam Silkie. I have 6 hens but this is the first to go full on broody. She won't leave her 1 little egg. She is all puffed up and making crazy sounds. It's scary to see this change in behavior (for me as a semi new chicken mama). I walk them a few times a day so I get to see them eat, drink, and play. She doesn't seem to want water. It's hot where I live and I worry she isn't getting enough water. Should I force a bit on her? Or trust her natural instincts? Thank you for reading. ~G

 

[Lacy Duckwing]

When did she start brooding? If she just started (like yesterday), adding some eggs to her clutch would be good. If she's not wanting to drink, she may have already gotten the water that she needs. A broody will naturally leave her nest to drink, eat, and go to the bathroom. If you're overly concerned, you can leave a small waterer by her so she can drink whenever she's thirsty.

 

[MROO]

I have an 8 month old black Bantam Silkie. I have 6 hens but this is the first to go full on broody. She won't leave her 1 little egg. She is all puffed up and making crazy sounds. It's scary to see this change in behavior (for me as a semi new chicken mama). I walk them a few times a day so I get to see them eat, drink, and play. She doesn't seem to want water. It's hot where I live and I worry she isn't getting enough water. Should I force a bit on her? Or trust her natural instincts? Thank you for reading. ~G

Welcome to Silkies! The little buggers are notorious for going broody at the drop of a hat ... or an egg. Most broodies will only get up once a day to eat/drink/poop. You'll know they're doing it because there'll be a massive pile of ... errr ... poo. Don't be surprised if she gives up after a short time. Youngsters will often "play house" before they really settle in for a true brood. In the meantime, if you're really worried, just make sure she has access to water from where she's setting - a little bowl of water or a hamster-type bottle should be enough.
If you're not ready for her to set, take the eggs each day ... just wear gloves, 'cause broodies BITE!

 

[InNC]

When did she start brooding? If she just started (like yesterday), adding some eggs to her clutch would be good. If she's not wanting to drink, she may have already gotten the water that she needs. A broody will naturally leave her nest to drink, eat, and go to the bathroom. If you're overly concerned, you can leave a small waterer by her so she can drink whenever she's thirsty.

Yesterday is when she hunkered down and refused to leave the coupe willingly. Today she stole an egg from another hen (she has 2 now) but I have all females so she's just sitting and wishing for now. (Thank you for caring )

 

[InNC]

Welcome to Silkies! The little buggers are notorious for going broody at the drop of a hat ... or an egg. Most broodies will only get up once a day to eat/drink/poop. You'll know they're doing it because there'll be a massive pile of ... errr ... poo. Don't be surprised if she gives up after a short time. Youngsters will often "play house" before they really settle in for a true brood. In the meantime, if you're really worried, just make sure she has access to water from where she's setting - a little bowl of water or a hamster-type bottle should be enough.
If you're not ready for her to set, take the eggs each day ... just wear gloves, 'cause broodies BITE!

Good info! Thank you for caring and replying

 

[DobieLover]

but I have all females so she's just sitting and wishing for now.

You need to break this girl. She will not stop unless you do. You can't leave a hen on infertile eggs.

Get a small wire dog crate and elevate it. Put a piece of wood in there for her to sit on, some food and water and leave her in there for three days and 2 nights. About 1 hour before roost time on the third day, let her out and watch her. If she roosts with the others, she broke. If she heads back to her nest, put her back in the crate for another night and day. Keep doing this until she roosts. You may need to keep her in there for a while as Silkies are notoriously hard to break and a little nutso about going broody.
This is what my setup looks like.

 

[InNC]

You need to break this girl. She will not stop unless you do. You can't leave a hen on infertile eggs.

Get a small wire dog crate and elevate it. Put a piece of wood in there for her to sit on, some food and water and leave her in there for three days and 2 nights. About 1 hour before roost time on the third day, let her out and watch her. If she roosts with the others, she broke. If she heads back to her nest, put her back in the crate for another night and day. Keep doing this until she roosts. You may need to keep her in there for a while as Silkies are notoriously hard to break and a little nutso about going broody.
This is what my setup looks like.
View attachment 3472801

That makes sense. Someone told me to lock the coop after letting them out in the morning until bedtime. But I'm worried my other chickens may become stressed not having access to their own nesting boxes. Thank you for the advice and visual aid.

 

[bobbi-j]

For future reference, if you ever do decide to let a hen go broody, just make sure she has access to food and water, but place them so she has to get off the nest to eat and drink. If she can reach food and water from the nest, she’ll likely poop in the nest and ruin the eggs. Broody hens will often only get off the nest once a day or so to eat, drink, poop and stretch their legs. I look at it this way - chickens have been hatching eggs for centuries without human intervention. I’ll trust them to figure it out.

 

[InNC]

For future reference, if you ever do decide to let a hen go broody, just make sure she has access to food and water, but place them so she has to get off the nest to eat and drink. If she can reach food and water from the nest, she’ll likely poop in the nest and ruin the eggs. Broody hens will often only get off the nest once a day or so to eat, drink, poop and stretch their legs. I look at it this way - chickens have been hatching eggs for centuries without human intervention. I’ll trust them to figure it out.

Thank you Bobbi . I would love to add to my flock. But my current setup is a cozy coop for 6. Maybe one day.

 

[InNC]

She's gone broody AGAIN y'all! I took a combo of everyone's advice the first and second time. I've even used it with other hens. It worked like a charm! But my little silkie is determined. This is full broody number 3 with her. Will this pass when the seasons change? Luckily she sweet and isn't a biter so it's easy to relocate her. But a week after she seems back to normal she's at it again. We have taken to calling her Mrs. New Broody. Any follow up advice? Thank you