When will new mama start eating again?

[TK421]

We slipped 11 chicks under my broody Barred Rock 5 days ago. We notice she‘s a very good mama. I had no idea that she would feed them treats (that I give her) or that she would show them where food was and break up their crumbles into even smaller pieces. Fascinating! but that’s my question. She doesn’t seem to eat much herself. We have a chick feeder out that she can easily eat from or scoop food out for herself but she doesn’t seem to do this, instead spending her time showing the chicks the spilled food. I’m worried that after being broody for 21 days and not eating much, that she needs to eat. I *know* that she won’t let herself starve, but is this normal?

 

[DobieLover]

We slipped 11 chicks under my broody Barred Rock 5 days ago. We notice she‘s a very good mama. I had no idea that she would feed them treats (that I give her) or that she would show them where food was and break up their crumbles into even smaller pieces. Fascinating! but that’s my question. She doesn’t seem to eat much herself. We have a chick feeder out that she can easily eat from or scoop food out for herself but she doesn’t seem to do this, instead spending her time showing the chicks the spilled food. I’m worried that after being broody for 21 days and not eating much, that she needs to eat. I *know* that she won’t let herself starve, but is this normal?

Yes, it is normal. But she is eating. Her utter focus in life right now is raising her chicks.
I have found that feeding the chick starter as a mash helps. It will stick to her beak and she'll tend to swallow more. I also put a small bowl it front of her where ever she beds the chicks down for the night and she will eat then too as long as it is not too long after she's settled them in.
She'll be fine. It is all natural behavior.