Broody Hens

A_nomad · **Joined:** Mon Jan 23, 2012 8:59 am **Posts:** 32

Hi, hoping i can get some info, i have a couple of broody hens sitting on some eggs at the moment, someone has told me that i should be taking them off the eggs every afternoon so they have a feed and a drink, is this necessary, or will they do this on there own accord when they need?

Thanks

HeartyHens · **Joined:** Wed Jul 31, 2013 11:40 am **Posts:** 1

All my broody hens get off and eat and drink every afternoon. I would never force them off the eggs

Chicka-Dee · **Joined:** Tue Jan 17, 2012 11:12 am **Posts:** 1194

A_nomad wrote:

Hi, hoping i can get some info, i have a couple of broody hens sitting on some eggs at the moment, someone has told me that i should be taking them off the eggs every afternoon so they have a feed and a drink, is this necessary, or will they do this on there own accord when they need?

Thanks

NO! Definitely not. [smilie=18_13_1.gif]

They'll get off when they know the temperature of the eggs is good enough to withstand their absence. Mother nature knows best. [smilie=a_goodjobson.gif]

My Clara got off every 3 days like clock work & did the mother of all stonks (that's my word for HUGE poops :shock:

)

You're so lucky to have a broody hen :-D

I'm just dying for my Clara to go clucky again.

Just sit back and enjoy this experience.

I loved it.

A_nomad · **Joined:** Mon Jan 23, 2012 8:59 am **Posts:** 32

I have 3 broody hens on eggs at the moment, wel 2 now, yesterday when I was looking in on the girls, one of the broodys didn't look well, and when I lifted her of the eggs, she was alive but not well, I put her down on the ground and she couldn't move, I isolated into another pen and today when I got home she was dead, all the other birds seem fine so not to sure what has happened, underneath her all the feathers had gone, I don't think it is mites or lice, any other idea would be welcome

Chicka-Dee · **Joined:** Tue Jan 17, 2012 11:12 am **Posts:** 1194

A_nomad wrote:

I have 3 broody hens on eggs at the moment, wel 2 now, yesterday when I was looking in on the girls, one of the broodys didn't look well, and when I lifted her of the eggs, she was alive but not well, I put her down on the ground and she couldn't move, I isolated into another pen and today when I got home she was dead, all the other birds seem fine so not to sure what has happened, underneath her all the feathers had gone, I don't think it is mites or lice, any other idea would be welcome

Oh no! I'm so sorry to hear about you Chookie's passing.

Whenever you take a broody off the nest they will just sit like a lump on the ground. They go into a trance and get this death stare going on. It's weird but hey whatever works for them. I know I wouldn't like to sit there for 3 weeks straight, although.....if that's all I had to do in order to have children, maybe I could... conf665

Sorry, back to your problem.... hide:

The baldness is the Hen plucking the feathers out as it is part of them feathering their nest & then the direct skin contact is how they regulate the temperature of the eggs. They're so clever. :-D

I use to give my girl Clara water & food every morning & afternoon so she was fed & hydrated, but she would not get off until she knew when she could.

I have heard of broody's starving to death on the nest, so your girl could have very well just died due to not eating enough.

They really are dedicated to their cause.

I'm sure if you look under your other girls they will have plucked out their feathers as well. Not that I'm suggesting that as you don't want to disturb the eggs or the temperature.

Once again, so sorry for you loss. :-D

Chickababe · **Posted:** Wed Jul 31, 2013 9:57 pm

So sorry to hear of your loss.

Broodies are such sensitive little ladies. My silkies will sit on eggs (or sawdust only) till the cows come home. We move them off the nest as they will not move on their own accord so they don't wither away. They have a poop, an eat and a stretch of the legs and wings and maybe a dust bath then back onto the nest.

Hope your other girls give you some beautiful little chicks soon. :-D

Raf · **Posted:** Thu Aug 01, 2013 7:06 am

Agree with all the posts above and if you concerned then you can offer food and water close to the nest to temp them to come off and eat

Raf

A_nomad · **Joined:** Mon Jan 23, 2012 8:59 am **Posts:** 32

More great info, its a learning curve thats for sure

Raf · **Posted:** Thu Aug 01, 2013 3:59 pm

The food and water near them really works well for bantams which seem to sit the hardest on eggs

Raf

Carol NZ · **Joined:** Fri Jan 08, 2010 8:12 pm **Posts:** 4792

I have dome what Raf suggests and it was a very good idea for that rare stubborn hen and yes she is a bantam

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