[shargi59]

We have a hen who has been broody for about three weeks now and we have been given four hopefully fertile eggs from our neighbour. She is sitting loyally on the eggs seperated from the other three chickens but doesn't seem to be eating or drinking. We have put a bowl of fresh water and some laying pellets mixed with corn within her reach but she still doesn't seem tobe eating it. Is this normal or what do we do?
Can anyone help please.

[joyfull]

as they are not very active and spend most of their time in a trance like state when sitting on eggs they won't eat very much, however you should lift her off the eggs twice a day so she can pooh, stretch he legs and eat and drink a little 

[Tazzy]

Can agree with that, had to take our Olive off her eggs twice a day for about ten mins so that she could stretch, poop, eat and drink. Take care when lifting her off though, as she can tuck the eggs right under her wings and they can easily get broken. We used to cover the eggs with a thick towel when she got off to keep them warm, and she didn't need to be encouraged to get back on them. Bear in mind that she will have been almost motionless for hours if not days, so she will be really stiff and almost unable to walk when she gets off, so just place her down gently on the floor and try to tempt her with a little food. Then watch her stretch, sqwawk and flap her wings for England  .

Good luck with the eggs - mine hatched 5 weeks ago, managed to have 8 of 12 hatch successfully