Broody hen not pooping

[Farmgirl283420]

My hen Amelia is broody and because she’s at the bottom of the pecking order her nest has to be fenced off. I take her out every morning to eat, drink, and poop. I’ve been sick the past few days so a family member has been helping me and said Amelia hasn’t been pooping. They said it looked like she tried but nothing came out. I’m now pretty worried about my hen she means a lot to me! Is something going on?

 

[HollowOfWisps]

Does this person know a lot about chickens? Did they watch her non-stop? Where she was let out is it dirt, grass or a large area that might be hard to find a dropping?

 

[Farmgirl283420]

Does this person know a lot about chickens? Did they watch her non-stop? Where she was let out is it dirt, grass or a large area that might be hard to find a dropping?

There is grass but it was just cut so it should be easy to find. This person usually helps me with Amelia so they know what to do. They did say Amelia ran under the coop so it’s possible she pooped under there. I’m feeling much better now so I’ll be able to watch watch her.

 

[HollowOfWisps]

There is grass but it was just cut so it should be easy to find. This person usually helps me with Amelia so they know what to do. They did say Amelia ran under the coop so it’s possible she pooped under there. I’m feeling much better now so I’ll be able to watch watch her.

I wouldn’t be too worried then. If she was out on an enclosed dirt surface I might be concerned, but with grass and a coop to run under she had plenty of places where she could have went with it going unnoticed.

 

[Farmgirl283420]

I wouldn’t be too worried then. If she was out on an enclosed dirt surface I might be concerned, but with grass and a coop to run under she had plenty of places where she could have went with it going unnoticed.

If it was dirt and she hasn’t pooped what do you think is wrong? Thanks for the help!

 

[Mrs. K]

If she is walking normally, fluffing up and growling, she is fine. Often times people seem to unwarrantedly worry about a broody hen, but really, it would do no good to the species if going broody killed the hen.

The life force is pretty strong in all animals.

If she didn't poop outside, the issue is not that she isn't pooping, but that she will poop on the eggs. If you keep her locked into her nest, that is a possibility.

I think she is pooping somewhere, if she was not pooping, she would be dying, and that is different than being broody.

Mrs K

 

[Farmgirl283420]

If she is walking normally, fluffing up and growling, she is fine. Often times people seem to unwarrantedly worry about a broody hen, but really, it would do no good to the species if going broody killed the hen.

The life force is pretty strong in all animals.

If she didn't poop outside, the issue is not that she isn't pooping, but that she will poop on the eggs. If you keep her locked into her nest, that is a possibility.

I think she is pooping somewhere, if she was not pooping, she would be dying, and that is different than being broody.

Mrs K

Thank you! Amelia did poop today!