Potty Dotty is starving herself!!

Sue

Sue

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Help, what can I try to feed Potty Dotty. She's still broody, but of course this is still only the third week and we have about 2 months to go yet! She only eats a couple of mouthfuls once a day and I haven't seen her drink any water at all! Most days I've been able to feel a small amount of food in her crop, but tonight she has gone to bed with it more or less empty! She won't take any food from my hand now, not even minced beef! It's not having any effect putting her in the cage. If anyone can come up with any suggestions I would be very grateful, but just bear in mind that she's not a 'normal' hen!!!!! :roll: :roll:
 
Tuna,mealworms, chopped up boiled egg, spaghetti, fish cat food, sweetcorn, peas, rice, pasta to name a few things Ive used to get birds to eat. A bit of codliver oil mashed in with pasta, rice etc may help. Good luck!
 
I take it you Have you tried all the usual methods of broody-breaking Sue? What I have seen done to break even the most determined of sitters is the old broody breaking All-wire cage suspended off the ground for maximum air circulation and light, Plus the extra feature of balls of scrunched wire netting placed on the floor of the cage for added discomfort!! this usually deters the most determined of sitters after a few days of incarceration!

I would keep a pot of plain wheat and a drinker in front of her at all times, and tempt her appetite with favourite foods as suggested by ncotb. It's rare that broody hens suffer any long lasting harmful effects from their sellf enforced Hunger strikes. Their Metabolism alters through Hormonal influences during this time, meaning that they require a lot less food. The only serious danger to a bird's health in this situation would be an attack of Red Mite. I have known Healthy broodies sitting safe and tight Killed overnight by a sudden Infestation of Red Mite.
 
Yes, I know she's not normal Sue, she's a Wyandotte and we know all about those. LC's suspended cage is an established method, the key being cold air underneath to prevent her reaching incubation temperatures. But it does seem rather extreme and I've considered this with the Kamakasi TNN !

Think water is the primary concern. Syringe 5 mL per day down the back of the throat giving her time to swallow -a two person job probably.

I think the key here Sue is that she is being allowed to go to bed at night. She needs to be in a run outside in the cold all night. Obviously the longer she goes the higher the risk that this will run PD down and she will be ill. But if it goes on too long she will be ill anyway. Lulu, our broody Vanilla Wyandotte is a strong hen, but gets very run down in the three weeks of sitting. No hen we have had broody has needed more than three nights out, even the fluffy Orpingtons.
 
OK, sounds extreme, but try dunking herlegs and undercarridge 'only' in cold water, then drying off with a towel so she's not dripping to cool her skin down. Need to do it in the morning & not when freezing (obviously), but I was told this by a farmer & it seemed to work when I had this problem last summer as I don't have any way of putting her in a broody coop - not sure if an 'approved' method though???
 
We have some of those cold gel packs used when my husband's back was bad. You freeze them and then wrap in a cotton cloth so they don't come into direct contact with skin. Very effective at chilling - sort of reverse hot water bottle. Maybe sitting on one for half an hour twice a day would be good?
 
If you're going to syringe water could you not add some sort of protein shake or chick crumb to it first to help her put on weight?
 
Tried the freezer pack wrapped in a towel under one and it came out warm a few hours later! Didn't work at all, but some have tried it and it has.
 
Let her go to a sensible home where she can live a normal chicken life ! And to leave you with no illusions, this is not a joke !
 
Chuck said:
Let her go to a sensible home where she can live a normal chicken life ! And to leave you with no illusions, this is not a joke !
Click to expand...


What's your real name Chuck? Victor Meldrew? Or are you just a grumpy old man? :-x :-x :-x :-x
 
if shes strong she should be ok ,my maran sat for 52 days last year and she was fine { lost first set of eggs } but god was she still broody so i took the risk and got a few more eggs and she was fine but they didnt make it either she was soooooooooooooooooooooooo stressed i was shocked so my farmer friend gave me 2 day olds and wow within 5 mins she was sitting with them under her and was she a happy girly or what
 
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