i think my buff orp is killing herself trying to hatch these eggs

[Faith.M]

She will be just fine. Make sure she has access and all will be well. Make sure you let us know when those chicks hatch!!! I love my chickens

 

[secuono]

Quite literally, grab her and toss her out of the coop each day. Refuse to let her back in until she eats and drinks some.

 

[Chickie'sMomaInNH]

if she has been getting off the nest you will probably find a HUGE smelly poop, this is a broody poop. i do tend to put a small dish of water and give food to my broody hens to make sure they are eating while they are tending their nests. if i bring treats to the others i make sure to put some in the broody's pen if she just doesn't seem willing to leave her nest. most times my broodies hear the roo and decide after a few minutes of hearing the fuss to leave the nest to take a few minutes for themselves. if she is getting close to the last couple days before the eggs hatch she will not leave that nest and not turn the eggs. the comb does tend to pale towards the end of their time sitting on the eggs. i think this is because they aren't laying for a time. if you have it i would recommend getting the rooster booster vitamins or any type of vitamins for chickens to add to the water for her so she has a little boost to her system. once she's done brooding she'll need to regrow the feathers on her belly and this should help with that.

if you are concerned that she isn't taking a break you can always lift her off the nest and put her somewhere far from it to make sure she get some exercise to get back to that nest. at this far point in time i am sure she will not abandon the eggs. the eggs will retain their heat and sometimes the other hens will help by covering them if momma is taking a longer break than you think is necessary. a truly broody hen off a nest will continuously make a low bawking sound till she gets back to her eggs, an occasional growl may be heard if she is approached while off the nest. kind of like she is trying to talk to the egg while she's away. also tells the other hens and roos to keep back from her because she's just not in the mood!

 

[897tgigvib]

BJ, looks like you got great advice. I was waiting to see what chickies moma would say. I know nothing, but her advice sure looks good. Sec's way may be the method if needed, and Smart has good plans too.

So sorry to hear about the Rooster.

 

[lesa]

I have a buff doing the exact same thing- except she doesn't have any eggs!! At least yours is sacrificing for a purpose! I do drag her kicking and screaming out of the coop a couple times a day- but she comes right back in. Nature!

 

[bj taylor]

miss buff was off the nest today. eating, drinking, preening. I went in to look at the nest, 15 eggs. those darn sneaky girls have been slipping them in on her. I removed the add ons. she should be a little more comfortable in there. I wish I knew the 21st day, but I just have to wait & see. now that I know she's ok, I can relax a little more. sure hope she has some babies soon.

 

[897tgigvib]

Sounds like good news coming from the maternity ward!

 

[MontyJ]

I have a buff doing the exact same thing- except she doesn't have any eggs!! At least yours is sacrificing for a purpose! I do drag her kicking and screaming out of the coop a couple times a day- but she comes right back in. Nature!

If she has no eggs, what in the world do you do? Will she eventually just give up and go back to normal?

BJ, glad to hear your broody is moving around a bit.