Sick Broody hen

[PurplePoppiPpl]

I just noticed that my banty cochin who has been sitting on eggs for a two weeks, has lost weight and is weak. when i picked her up i noticed the plumage on her rear had completly blocked the vent. She essentially has pasty butt. I cleaned most of it out and trimmed the feathers around it. I'm just wondering if i should allow her to stay on the eggs. i also have two Old English hens who are broody but havent sat on any real eggs... should i try to give one of them the eggs?

 

[Judy]

I wonder if she has been getting up and eating. Occasionally they don't, not even once a day. I think if I suspected she hadn't been, if there was that much poop, I would remove her and put her in a cage to break her, and try to get one of the others to take the eggs. Or you could clean her up and then take her off the nest daily and see that she eats and drinks, til the eggs hatch. Check her well for mites, as well; they are so prone to them when broody.

 

[PurplePoppiPpl]

prior to today she was in an enclosed area within the coop with her own food and water, i took it out and also opened it up so she can go outside to eat, drink, and hopefully poop