4m x 3m Omlet pen, cube, new auto door still boxed and coop light

[Sammy]

Hi Everyone

 

I know there's a couple of posts on broody hens at the moment and I've read the details there but have some specific questions and didn't want to "poach" other peoples posts.

 

My favourite hen, Vimto, a Silver Sussex (Streamer) has been broody now for 8 days. Unfortunately she started the day before we went on holiday (unfortunately for my neighbours who where looking after them in my absence and had to keep getting her out).

 

So far I have shut the access off to the nest box when they have all laid and I've dunked her in water yesterday. Some questions please:

 

1) When dunking in water - how many times a day, and is it just her bottom I'm dunking?

2) I was going to try the dog crate method - as my chickens get to free range for a quite a large portion of the day do I keep her in the crate all day in view of the rest of the chickens or let her out at all?

3) Do I put her in the house with the rest of the girls at night to perch? (tonight I had to lift her off the hen house floor and put her on the perch).

4) I'm assuming a broody stops laying?

5) I can really feel her breast bone now so she's obviously losing weight - although I'm getting her out at least 3 times a day to "toilet" and eat/drink, as soon as she's had her "fill" she runs back in (and don't know how often my neighbours got her out so could have lost the weight then) - is there any supplements I should be giving her or anything else I need to do? Today I put out broccoli, fresh corn on the cob and tomatoes and she didn't budge.

 

Sorry for so many questions, but it's my first broody (I only got my 7 girls 3 months ago) and as she's my favourite I'm really worried about her.

 

Thanks everyone.

[Egluntyne]

Have a look at Kate's article on **Broody hens** from the FAQ section.

[Sammy]

That's really helpful - thanks Egluntine!