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Feeding Runaround Sue the broody hen 2x a day and foam square on clutch to keep it warm

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Feeding Runaround Sue, my dedicated Buff Orpington hen, twice a day has become essential to her well-being during this cooler April/May period. These committed broody girls often stay glued to their nests, but I noticed Sue's keel bone becoming too prominent, suggesting she's lost weight. To combat this, I now pull her off the nest twice daily, making sure she has a stress-free meal experience. I strategically avoid the early morning and late evening chill, allowing her to eat and drink without worrying about her eggs getting cold. Plus, I use a foam square to keep the eggs warm while she’s away, ensuring her clutch stays cozy. With these adjustments, I’m hopeful for a successful hatch and a healthier Sue!
Feeding Runaround Sue the broody hen 2x a day and foam square on clutch to keep it warm
Feeding Runaround Sue the broody hen 2x a day and foam square on clutch to keep it warm

My Buff Orpingtons that brood are very dedicated and unless it is July hot, they won't voluntarily get off the nest to eat and drink.

Since April/May is cooler, I've been pulling Runaround Sue (on left) off the nest 1x a day to eat and drink, laying her down right by the feeder. I suspect their legs go a bit numb being frozen in place so long, but she gets up, eats, drinks, runs for a dust bath, scratches grass and returns.

I noticed her keel bone was awfully prominent, indicating she is losing too much weight, so I decided to pull her off the nest 2x a day instead of once.

As part of this, my tips:

  • I avoid the cool moments after sunrise and before sunset. The hens seem to relax more if they aren't worried about the eggs getting cold.
  • I make sure there isn't a crowd around the feeder, so she can get to the pellets without distress.
  • When I pull her off, I put a perfectly sized square of foam on the eggs to keep them warm (see pic).
  • I set a timer on my phone at about 15 minutes so I remember to come back to the nesting box and remove the foam so Sue can climb back in.

Hopefully this will result in both a fine hatch and Sue keeping her weight stable.

She's a dedicated broody who raised a great clutch last year, so I wasn't too worried about her losing interest. If she was lackadaisical, I'm sure I could place her at the edge of the nesting box and she's home right in on her job.

Any other ideas you can think of?

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#chicken eggs#chickens#fear of chickens#broody hen#Runaround Sue#Buff Orpingtons#clutch#feeding#weight loss#nesting box#foam square#dust bath#pellets#hatch#cool moments#keel bone#timer#eating and drinking#relaxation#scratches grass