Worried about broody hen

[aart]

Only let her sit until day 23 then you have to take her off or else she might die

This is not true.

 

[cmom]

Here is a true story from a friend of mine for what it's worth. My friend had a broody and she didn't want to get off of her nest so he left her there. One day (I don't know how many days she had been sitting but I think it was close to when the chicks were due to hatch) when he went to check on her she was on the nest dead. She may have died from something else, natural causes. I'll have to ask him because this was several years ago. I think everyone who owns chickens will at one time or another will find a dead bird which will be a mystery of why it died. Most broody's will likely get off their nest for a short time daily to eat, drink and poop. I use an old rabbit hutch that I converted for a broody to brood in. I put feed and water in it.

 

[Turkey Girl]

If you let her sit to long she might die. but thats only after day 21. If she does not lay eggs for a month she could die.

 

[sourland]

If you let her sit to long she might die. but thats only after day 21. If she does not lay eggs for a month she could die.

? Occasionally a setting hen will die, but generally it is from a mite infestation that builds up as they are brooding. Not laying eggs for a month will have no impact on a hen.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

If you let her sit to long she might die. but thats only after day 21. If she does not lay eggs for a month she could die.

Can you explain this a bit more?

You mention that if she does not lay eggs for a month she could die?
What about hens that are molting and stop laying for a couple of months?

 

[cmom]

Can you explain this a bit more?

You mention that if she does not lay eggs for a month she could die?
What about hens that are molting and stop laying for a couple of months?

 

[Turkey Girl]

Well if a hen sits on eggs for so long and doesn't lay she can get the eggs stuck inside her. But this hen should be fine as long as she doesn't sit for to long. Good luck!

 

[besorto]

If you let her sit to long she might die. but thats only after day 21. If she does not lay eggs for a month she could die.

This is false.

 

[besorto]

Well if a hen sits on eggs for so long and doesn't lay she can get the eggs stuck inside her. But this hen should be fine as long as she doesn't sit for to long. Good luck!

This is majorly false as well.

 

[FluffTheDuck]

To tell if she is broody she will usually "squak" when you try to collect her eggs. Just in case they are fertile and actually incubating, mark them with a sharpie that way you don't forget and collect them and break them into your food and there's a half-formed chicken!
Oops... I accidentally did that. Yuckk!!!!