Green Tea Posted May 5, 2011 Share Posted May 5, 2011 Any advice please? My broody hen has been sitting on her eggs since last Wednesday ...... actually since a couple of days before that really but they were unfertilised eggs to start with. Since Wednesday I don't think she's left the nest once. I have put food and water close by and she does seem to have eaten a little and today I put down some soaked corn. She is very angry everytime I look in the coop and picking her up doesn't seem an option as I'm afraid she might damage the eggs whilst trying to fight me off! What is worrying me is that she looks really poorly, her comb and around her eyes have a very definite yellow tinge to them .... not pink anymore. Is there anything I can do? She still has around 12 days to go I guess and I really don't want her to get ill - would rather not have chicks than risk that Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
madchickenlady Posted May 5, 2011 Share Posted May 5, 2011 Broody hens do go very pale in the face, and their combs shrink down. Have you found poo nearby? I judged my broody by how much poo she was producing. As long as she pooed every day, I left her to it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Green Tea Posted May 5, 2011 Author Share Posted May 5, 2011 Ahh, well .... This is another thing that worries me a bit because no, I don't think she has poo'd at all. Do you think I need to be a bit tougher and get her off the nest for a stretch? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
madchickenlady Posted May 5, 2011 Share Posted May 5, 2011 It might be an idea to lift her to see if she's messing in the nest If she's aggressive, wear gloves and be quick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jools Posted May 5, 2011 Share Posted May 5, 2011 You do yes. If she's not pooing, she's not eating and she'll starve to death. Lots of broodies take good care of themselves but some don't, so if yours falls into the latter category then please carefully take her off the nest every day and put her in front of food and water. Some tonic in her water is a good idea to give her a boost. The soaked corn is a very good idea too. HTH Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted May 5, 2011 Share Posted May 5, 2011 You do need to be hooking her off the nest daily Put your hands under her wings from behind her, dislodge any eggs that are there and 'ping' her forward on to her feet and out the door, shut the coop if necessary to stop her getting straight back on the eggs for five mins or so The first time you take her off the nest check the bedding and give it a quick clean out if necessary I know she wont like it but its for her own good and she will get used to it after a few days Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abwsco Posted May 5, 2011 Share Posted May 5, 2011 Ditto what Jools and Tasha have said. Also, when she does her broody poo you WILL know about it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Green Tea Posted May 5, 2011 Author Share Posted May 5, 2011 Thanks. I took her off the nest (twice now, with about an hour in between) - no poo under her at all, so I don't think she's done any since Wednesday last week I opened the door so she could get out to her pen but she only went as far as her water, had a drink and then quickly returned to the nest. Since then I have read the advice about making her go outside so will give that a go tomorrow and I will be sure to do that at least once/twice a day from now on. Never imagined it was going to be this stressful! Thanks everybody Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Green Tea Posted May 5, 2011 Author Share Posted May 5, 2011 Ok, so I'm officially obsessed now.......but ..... I just went out to check on her again and I knew as soon as I opened the shed door that she had finally done a poo - the stink was overwhelming. I lifted her out of the coop onto the shed floor so I could clean up the nest and she very obligingly produced another stinking green mound (thankfully my husband wasn't here to see the mess on his shed floor I still couldn't persuade her to eat anything or drink anymore but hopefully tomorrow she will do (she still has food and water close-by to the nest anyway). She seems a lot happier about me lifting her off now though and didn't try to attack me this time so that's some sort of progress I guess! Earlier this afternoon my sister popped round to see me and no sooner was she through the door than my niece threw up all over my hallway........I thought that smelled bad until now! Thanks again Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
madchickenlady Posted May 5, 2011 Share Posted May 5, 2011 Broody poo is a toxic substance Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kittyl Posted May 8, 2011 Share Posted May 8, 2011 Yeuc, just read the thing about broodies being v susceptable to redmite. May be worth checking that too Greentea if she's still looking peeky. I'll be dusting my little broody with some extra diatom today after reading that Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Green Tea Posted May 8, 2011 Author Share Posted May 8, 2011 I read that too, and have dusted her just to be sure. Have to say though that since I started getting her out and making her drink and eat (put some poultry tonic in her water too), she is looking loads better. Her comb is pink again and she is more alert. Just got to keep fingers crossed that at least one or two of the eggs are ok and she hasn't gone through all this for nothing now Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jools Posted May 8, 2011 Share Posted May 8, 2011 Glad to hear she's perked up and good luck with the eggs too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
