My Broody Hen

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Hi

I have a Broody Hen sitting on some Bantam eggs, I was told by the friend that gave me the Hen and eggs that she would take herself off to eat and drink... after being sat on the eggs for about 36 hours she had still not taken herself off so I decided to take her off myself.... she had some food, drink and poo and a bit of a dust bath and then got back on - thats was 2 days ago, since then I have been taking her off every day but she literally has a tiny amount to eat and drink then gets back on (is off for about 2 minutes) without having a poo or run about or anything.

Is this normal?? :?

Thanks
 
Hello, yes, if the hen can get off and can see the food/water then she will when she is hungry- broody hens tend to sit tight for the first few days and will get off more often as incubation goes on- i never take mine off- they get off themselves - sometimes it is two or three days at first then every day towards hatching- don't worry- :) as long as she can get off if she wants too then leave her be- they know what they are doing better than you :) regards, David :)
 
Phew.... I was worried that she would either get ill and I'd end up raising the chicks myself or that she would poo on the eggs and that would ruin the hatch.

Thanks for putting my mind at rest :)
 
I have 3 broodies atm, 2 of which happily get themselves off to eat drink etc but no3 hardly eats or drinks but i try not to interfere
 
I try to leave mine alone but I had one who would *never* get off for anything.

Also a few years ago I had one hen who sat very tight and did not come off often and she ended up very weak (had been very healthy before this) and then when the chicks were a few days old she developed crop/internal problems and had to be put down. I believe she became ill as she did not move around at all and so her system more or less stopped.
 
today i hand fed her sunflower hearts as they are really good nourishment and then put a few a little way away and she got off for those for 2 seconds lol
well at least she moved
sorry to hear about your hen snifter :cry:
 
It's now day 7 since my broody got off the eggs (I took her off) for a poo, food and drink. Well, as far as I know as I'm not in all day but there r no fresh poos and doesn't look like her food has been touched.

What should I do? Should I now move her off myself?

Thanks :?
 
If it were me I'd probably move her off and put her in the run for 10 minutes to do what she has to. Often hens become almost catatonic when broody. 5 minutes in a run, in fresh air with food, water and grass nearby can bring them back to the world.

If she does what she needs to, just open the hatch and let her go back to her eggs.

If she doesn't, do the same. But then try again tomorrow.

They can stay off the eggs for a while so its not that she has to be back on them in 5 minutes. My best broody used to spend about 20-30 minutes a day off her eggs stuffing her face :lol:
 
Thanks, I just took her off and she had some food and water... She wanted to get straight back on but I blocked off the nest for 5 mins and eventually she did the BIGGEST STINKIEST poo ever!! That's what holding it in for a week does :lol:

I'll tale her off once a day if she doesn't start doing it herself

cheers
 
My hen has been taking herself off every day now!

Chicks are due to hatch anytime now, I am going to get some chick crumb today - should I also leave the corn in there for mum or take that away?
I have put some pebbles in a shallow dish of water so that the chicks cannot drown in it

The hen is in an outerbuilding that I have at the moment, I take it when the chicks are hatched they will be fine in there? I don't need a heat lamp or anything or need to bring them inside is they have their mum for warmth right?

So Exciting - hope they actually hatch!!

:D
 
Hi Laura, no take the corn out- just feed chick crumbs- and yes, they will be fine with mum- she will look after all their needs- keep them warm and show them what to eat and where to drink- enjoy your new arrivals :D
regards, David :)
 
I take my broodies off the eggs each morning for 15 minutes each, some broodies just don;t want to leave the eggs. Aslong as the hen has water, feed and exercise for a few minutes she will be fine.
 
Had a sneaky peak this morning when my hen got off for food and the eggs have started to hatch.... fingers crossed I'll have some chicks when I get home this evening :D
 
I think the chicks have hatched - I could hear them all yesterday evening chirping underneath mum but couldn't hear anthing this morning, just mum clucking.

What do I need to do next?

Do I just leave them be, or should I take mum off the nest and remove the empty shells and unhatched eggs?

Thanks
 
Hi, if she can get off on her own- i.e. the nest is very low to the floor- i would leave her until tom- put some chick crumbs and a drinker in and she will bring them off when she is ready- they might not all be hatched- if you can put your hand underneath her and gently remove the egg shells just in case any eggs get "capped" by empty shells- that way you know how many have hatched and how many (if any) still to go :)
good luck,
regards, David :)
 
Brilliant, thanks!

They are at ground level so I will leave her be to take her chicks off the nest when she is ready... I'll try and take the shells out if I can

Thanks so much for your help :D
 
Managed to sneak a peak this morning and only 4 have hatched (very cute)!! She was sat on 13 eggs and it would of been 21 days on Sunday... they started hatching Monday morning so I assume that there won't be anymore??

Not a very good picture as its very dark in the nest and mum was just getting back onto the nest.
 

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Hello, you can always candle the rest to see if fertile/DIS - if they were due Sunday, i think that is all she is going to hatch- if the rest are not viable i would remove them- the chicks will need to eat and drink so you dont want mum sitting tight for too long :)
regards, David :)
 
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