The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Poultry & Waterfowl => Topic started by: terryh on May 23, 2010, 09:36:11 pm

Title: broody hen not eating
Post by: terryh on May 23, 2010, 09:36:11 pm

hi guys
our broody  hen is on 11 eggs one got broke my problem is the hen dose not seam to be eating and im getting worried the  pot is still full after 2 days
what can i do ?????? help please

terry

Title: Re: broody hen not eating
Post by: Castle Farm on May 23, 2010, 10:29:01 pm

Don't worry Terry in nearly 50 years of breeding chickens I have never had a broody starve herself yet.
They are in a low gear at the moment and not useing any fuel like when they are active..She'll be out to eat when she is ready,just leave her to get on with it. ;)

Title: Re: broody hen not eating
Post by: terryh on May 23, 2010, 10:39:50 pm

thanks a lot i was worried I've never done this before and have only had hens about 6 weeks

terry

Title: Re: broody hen not eating
Post by: Roxy on May 24, 2010, 05:23:58 pm

I have had lots of broody hens, and some do sit tight on the nest, especially if they think you are around, but I have watched from a distance, and most do actually come off to eat and drink, maybe not every day though.  One in particular, I have been holding water up to her in this very hot weather, as I thought she could do with a drink.  Usually though I leave them to help themselves, if in a hutch. 

Once the eggs are nearly due, mine stay put, and definitely are not bothered about food.

Title: Re: broody hen not eating
Post by: bamford6 on May 24, 2010, 06:44:19 pm

you could boil an egg up and a digestive biskit and put that nere her shel eat that and is very good for them

Title: Re: broody hen not eating
Post by: terryh on May 24, 2010, 10:51:27 pm

hi roxy
i tried holding some water up to her today she loved it glad i did it now  ;) thanks

Title: Re: broody hen not eating
Post by: dixie on May 25, 2010, 09:16:28 am

Just leave the food and water near to her, she will soon get up when shes hungry and probably do a huge poo while shes up!! ;D

Title: Re: broody hen not eating
Post by: Roxy on May 25, 2010, 05:15:02 pm

Good that she has had a drink, that will keep her going a bit!!!

Yes, thats another reason I like the hens to come off the nest, broody hens do the biggest poo's, and its not nice in the nest among their eggs.

Title: Re: broody hen not eating
Post by: terryh on May 27, 2010, 08:53:55 pm

Quote from: dixie on May 25, 2010, 09:16:28 am

Just leave the food and water near to her, she will soon get up when shes hungry and probably do a huge poo while shes up!! ;D

you right about the poo dixie  ;D

Title: Re: broody hen not eating
Post by: terryh on May 29, 2010, 05:25:38 pm

im starting to get excited now  eggs are due to hatch 17 days and counting
wrote on the eggs in pencil was new Hampshire but these eggs are a cream colour ??? and a bit smaller than the welsummer eggs im getting from the other hens so it will be interesting to see what we get   ;D

Title: Re: broody hen not eating
Post by: Sharondp on May 30, 2010, 08:53:33 am

I take my broodys off the nest at the same time each day, but will stop at day 17 when they should sit tight until hatching  :)

Title: Re: broody hen not eating
Post by: terryh on June 04, 2010, 01:50:40 pm

no chicke as yet will give her another day or so day 23  :pig: :-\

Title: Re: broody hen not eating
Post by: terryh on June 07, 2010, 03:00:44 pm

removed the hen just a minute ago most her eggs that i bought from penkridge had started to develop i would have had 8 out of 12 she must have got off at some point and let them go cold  never mind just wait for another hen to go broody and try again  ::)