Will she know ot do it?

[Johnn]

My broody hen is now in the broody coop and she is locked in there with her food and water, she will be let out every couple of days for a couple of hours so she can have a good stretch (i know she wont stay out that long because she will want to be back to her eggs) on these hours shes out can i reley (sorry for spelling) on her to go and get a dust bath? because i dont want her to get lice and pass them onto the chicks. And yes everyone will have seen that i have loads of questions about broodys all over the place but i just want to know the answers so i feel confident

 

[Johnn]

oops put "ot" instead of "to" in the title

 

[donrae]

My broodies have always gone for the water, the food, taken a huge poop, then taken a dirt bath. Another drink, then back on the eggs.

 

[Johnn]

So if she wants one she shuld just do it her self?

 

[ValleyPoultryFarms]

Hens are built to know what to do. I raise flocks of chicks to sell all the time, and broody hens often help me hatch them in, personally, a more reliable method than an incubator. The hens turn the eggs more, which wears down the shell more for an easier quicker hatch. (personal opinion, not proven) keep the perfect temperature and humidity.
And your hen will take awhile to know when to return to the eggs with good timing. (eggs can be left alone for up to half an hour without damage) so I wouldn't encourage the hen to leave. She will know when she needs water.

 

[Johnn]

shes only been off her eggs for 10 mins at the most a day but i just want her to know to go for a dust bath if any lice get to her

 

[Mrs. K]

I leave mine with my flock. I have small nest boxes, and they pick one and set. I don't confine her, and really, I just try and leave her alone. She eats out of the feeder and drinks out of the waterer that the layers use.

With my first one, I moved her, and confined her, and she got out, and went back to 'her' nest. I left her there, gave her new eggs and was successful, and have left all of my broodies since then where they wanted to be. They raise their chicks right in the flock and it works sweet. I do let my layers and roo out to free range during the day.

When you fiddle with them, trying to get them to do what they don't want to, is when they will leave the nest. Unless your flock is crawling with lice, I would not worry about it. Let her do what she wants, when she wants to is best, I think.

 

[Johnn]

well she is locked up at the minute so im going to put some powder on the infected hens then let her out the day later when it should have started to kill the lice

 

[Mrs. K]

hey, there is another post on this issue, hope you found it. That person sprinkled on hen and nest I think.