What makes a chicken coop easy to live with?

[jellykelly]

She's been broody since last week. Today I will be placing some hatching eggs underneath her. She's reluctant to go for a break. I have to make sure she does go out. When she nips out she's eating a mix of pellets and corn. Now I've read about corn overheating them and layers pellets probably aren't the best in terms of helping her keep her weight/condition up.

Are there any really good alternives for me to offer her?

[miller30]

Hi ive got a broody orp sat on 8 eggs at the mo shes been sat for a week im just giving her normal layers pellets at the moment but when the chicks hatch they will all go on chick crumb including broody i hate it when their broody as they loose so much weight at least mines popping out twice aday for a quick nosh not much help sorry leanne.

[meezers]

I fed Muppet a very small handful of mixed corn 3 times a day ( while she was sat on the nest), plus about a heaped teaspoonful of tinned sweetcorn 2 or 3 times a day. The sweetcorn was to get some water into her, as I noticed she wasn't drinking when she left the nest . I also had to lift her off each day, she wouldn't take a break on her own accord. The corn is recommended on another forum , it supposedly makes the broody poo a bit drier ( wouldn't know, but it wasn't as bad as I expected ) and I'm fairly certain she hasn't lost any weight. When she was given a choice, she chose the corn over the layers pellets every time, I should think she knows what she needs.

[Jools]

I was advised that corn was the best food for broodies but to avoid pellets, though I can't remember why now. The only other thing I do is add a good quality poultry tonic to their drinking water too.

[jellykelly]

Thankyou for the advice. I've put a 50/50 mix of corn and pellts in with her (sniffing distance) and also some cucumber for it's water content.

I just hope she eats some and doesn't just look at it!

[Chook n Boo Mum]

I give my two Mini-Mums Blossom and Holly a pot with live mealworms and soaked corn in to munch on, I remove them from the nest at breakfast & tea time so they stretch their little legs, vent their lungs poo for England and have a small feed & drink.....I also give them a few mealworms or soaked corn or sweetcorn during the day whilst they are on the nest to try & keep their condition & water intake up. I leave the leftovers in the pot in case they get up themselves & the rest of the rabble get them flung as far as possible away from the nurseries so I can add fresh rations for the Mini-Mums to eat at the next mealtime

 

Bloss is on day 19 now, so I'll leave her on the nest & just offer her a snack every so often for the next couple of days.....there were no signs of early pippers this evening, so roll on Wednesday DS wil be so excited if they do hatch Tues/Weds as he'll be home tomorrow evening for a dentist appointment on Wednesday morning (he boards)......I didn't organise it all like that honestly

 

Sha x