broody hen

[Anonymous]

i need some advice i am having problems with broodys they are having bowel movements over the eggs . am i actually supposed to feed them when sitting or is it just water i should give them i put them in a large box and put mesh on it or should they be able to leave the eggs thanks any advice will be appreciated

 

[Anonymous]

Hi
Broody hens must be able to leave there eggs and must have food and water available, if you can put food and drink a bit away from where she is sitting. If she wont leave her eggs she should be gently lifted off them once a day and placed near her food so she can streach her legs eat drink and go to the loo. I think normally a hen won't poop on her eggs unless she hasn't got room to anywhere else. I'm no expert but have been given advice and have now got 4 week old chicks from my first broody.if you have one or can get one a rabbit hutch is ideal for a broody. hope this helps and good luck. let us know how you get on

 

[Anonymous]

I'm not hugely experienced but I did have problems with my previous broody never coming off the nest for her food and water; she nearly died and was never the same again after rearing her chicks. So with my current one she always has water in the coop but once a day she gets a bowl of mixed grain and a bit of grit put outside the coop and I actively watch her to make sure she comes out, stretches, eats loads, nibbles some grass, drinks, and poos before she goes back on her nest. I do this at the same time every day.

She (a pekin) is in a nest of shavings in a 12' cube cardboard box with a door cut in it. This is placed inside a small coop (3'x2') with a mesh window for light and air - not much different to a rabbit hutch. Outside she has a 4'x3' run so the other hens don't bother her. The nest is not facing the window. My previous hen reared her chicks in the same arrangement. Hope this helps.

 

[snifter]

I never feed or give anything to drink to mine while on the eggs. A hen that won't get off the eggs will deteriorate and won't really be fit and in decent condition to rear her chicks. Also leaving a bird to be immobile could cause other problems.

Always put water and food out so she has to get off the eggs for a bit to go feed, drink and then she should poo also. One giant one.

I always then can check the poo to make sure its healthy looking (ie showing signs of her taking in enough water) and clear it out from the run.

If your hen has shown no sign of coming out for food and water (seeing sign of a fresh poo will usually give you a clue) then take her off and put her in the run to feed and drink. I always do this around the same time each day and usually after a few days the broody gets the idea and comes out on her own.

If she is pooing over the eggs, I'd maybe look to be lifting her off earlier in the day to see if this helps. It may be she is sitting too long and pooing sooner would mean she would then not need to poo when sitting. I think its quite unusual for a hen to poo while sitting on her eggs. They don't like to. Are you sure she isn't pooing when in the run and then walking/standing in it and then carrying it back and transferring it to the eggs? That could be what is happening.