[chriso]

One of my hens is now sitting on eggs for the first time. I'm just a bit bothered that she does not get up for drinks/food. What should I do to ensure she's ok?

[MelRice]

 :chook:Are you sure she does not get up? I put mine in a separate box whilst she is sitting with her own private supply of water and food. even so after a day or so where no or hardly any food had gone I chucked her out but left the door open. She complained,stretched,shook, did a poo. had 5 mins out and went back after only eating a tiny bit of food. I then booted her out every morning for a walk.(she was in the lowest box of my rabbit flats so was out only whilst i fed them) We now have a lovely brood that she is managing to keep sate even from the buzzards which are very daring round here. After four weeks she and her mob have gone back in with the others all the time.

[chriso]

I should have mentioned I don't have a cockrel so I don't really want her sitting.

I havn't seen her up when I'm about.

[Cobra]

They will go an awful long time without when sitting, when they do leave the eggs its generally a very quick pit stop and your almost certainly not going to notice.

Quick drink, some food and a large broddie poo, they will drop that far from the nest usually, have a look, if theres a large poo near by thats a good sign shes been out.

You may be interested in this thread. http://www.accidentalsmallholder.net/forum/index.php?topic=15094.0

Edit 

Just spotted you didn't want her sitting. just persevere and chuck her out each day, shut the door etc. if you do want some chicks buy some hatching eggs and make the most of her ;-)

[caroline]

Hi, am very new to this (the computer bit and the chickens) My two hens both got broody at the same time, I got fertilized eggs from supplier and they both shared the nest.  I turned both hens out every day and they fed tiny amounts then back in so left food and water in the coop within reach.  they loved fresh grass placed right under beaks - bit pampered really.  anyway, present problem is that out of 6 six eggs, only 3 hatched (two broke probably in the slight squabbling over who was sitting tho mostly they sat side by side)  I think I now have 3 light sussex cockerels.  They are weeks old but pretty tall and keep sparring with each other.  I can't keep because we're in residential area.  does anyone want one?  (Ayr)  Caroline

[Pony-n-trap]

5 of my 7 Bantys decided to go broody!

So they got chucked out of the coop each morning for 3 days and the door was shut, only letting them in at night, theyre not broody now just waiting for them to start laying again.  The 2 that hadnt gone broody just popped into the duck house and laid their eggs in there!

[zeeteecee]

I'm allowing a broody for the first time this year, and she's on 10 duck eggs at the moment with only 8days to go.  she is in a quiet shed in a HUGE dogcrate to keep her mess to a minimum, but doesn't seem to be getting off the eggs to poop!
There seems to be a lot of poop on the edge of the nest, I fished out a lovely handful the other day as the shed was a bit whiffy by then!
Will this 'muck up' (if you pardon the pun!) the hatch rate?
Z

[doganjo]

I can't keep because we're in residential area.  does anyone want one?  (Ayr)  Caroline

That's the problem with hatching if you can't sex them at birth.  I've hatched ducks twice, once for a friend, once for myself.  Both times we've been lucky and all turned out to be ducks rather than drakes.  Don't think I'll try it again, 3rd time bound to be unlucky!