Tweety Posted August 26, 2007 Share Posted August 26, 2007 This is probably a very stupid question, but I can't find the answer anywhere and am sure that someone here will know it. Question: What are the reasons, other than lack of egg production, for trying to stop chooks being broody? If it is a natural process for a chicken, shouldn't we just let them get on with it and put up with the lack of eggs for a few weeks? Maybe they need the break? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christian Posted August 26, 2007 Share Posted August 26, 2007 It takes so much out of them, as they don't feed/drink properly. Some hens will lay on the nest for months if left to do so. The break in egg laying is good for them but not for too long as they lose so much weight. Hope this answers your question. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baggins Posted August 26, 2007 Share Posted August 26, 2007 I don't know much about this except from personal experience ... Elisa has just snapped out of her 4th period of broodiness this summer and I physically remove her from the nest as often as possible otherwise she wouldn't think to eat or drink and I fear she would make herself very ill. Although very grumpy when removing her, she very quickly seems relieved that I've taken her to food and water (even though it's been just outside the nesting box the entire time ) ... and guzzles both before trotting back in for another sitting session. I think they can overheat very easily too (only have to feel underneath them when picking them up - make a great hot-water bottle ) and she has quite a bare tummy where all the feathers have "rubbed away". Someone will be along to provide a more technical answer soon, I'm sure .... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nicola H Posted August 26, 2007 Share Posted August 26, 2007 I always leave Bunty to it she has been broody 3 times so far this year, she gets off the nest twice a day to feed, drink and dust bathe, I just make sure that she has some high protein food such as cracked corn or meal worms. Broody hens don't need to eat layers mash or pellets because they are not laying so you should provide high protein food for them, I checked her over this morning and although she looks a bit thin she is healthy and i am sure she will soon stop being broody and join the rest of the flock. I think some people try to stop a hen going broody if they have a small flock and need the eggs or if the broody is making it difficult for the others to use the nesting box to lay, I don't think there are any other reasons for stopping them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tara.F Posted August 26, 2007 Share Posted August 26, 2007 the other problem with broody hens is that mites love 'em They sit there, in a trance, making no attempt to get rid of them (broodies don't dustbathe either.) Then, because we expect broodies to be grumpy and lethargic, because their crops are already a bit pale and their feathers looking rather shabby, we might miss the symptoms of infestation and illness untill too late. My little wyandotte doesn't quit after three weeks either. Last time she sat (on an empty nest) for seven weeks and only stopped then because we resorted to dunking her in water three times a day. She's been broody 3 times so far this summer and the non-broody periods in between are not really long enough for her to get her strength back. I guess some chooks are better at it than others. Some get off to eat etc, some stop after a shortish time and return to normal. Mine would happily starve to death (which sometimes happens, so I've read) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tweety Posted August 26, 2007 Author Share Posted August 26, 2007 Thank you all for your answers and advice. Amanda Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beach chick Posted August 27, 2007 Share Posted August 27, 2007 I'm really interested to read these replies, having just posted about my Mercedes being broody. she is becoming more and more nest bound, so I will try and get her out of it. water dunking 3 times a day is interesting - I have done it once a day since late last week, also doing the ice pack in the nest. however, I noticed a tiny red spider on her yesterday - I have to say, it looked like one of those you get in the garden, but do I need to panic about red mite? she's been broody on and off for a good month now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Pearsons Posted August 27, 2007 Share Posted August 27, 2007 Toast came off the nest to eat and drink and dust bathe once a day. As she has just hatched one of the eggs she done okay.... Helen in Hume Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
foreveryoung Posted August 27, 2007 Share Posted August 27, 2007 Broody has a 5 week old chick now and seems to be doing fine! this was her 5th attempt to sit so I thought I would allow her to and I got beginners luck I think!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
