Probably is normal but I'd like to check

[The Nichols']

I have a broody Light Sussex hen. At least, I think we do. Googling the signs of broody seems to point to that. She sits very tight to eggs which are very hot when you take them away from.

I lift her off twice every day and she goes off to feed and drink.

My only concern is that her comb has gone very pale. I've never had a hen go broody before so don't know if this is normal.

Any help please?

[RichmondHens]

Yes she sounds broody to me! Hens combs will turn paler if they spend a long time inside brooding. However, you need to make sure there is not an infestation of red mite in the house contributing to her lack of colour.

If there are no signs of mite in the house, and you are happy for her to continue being broody, then you can just carry on as you are. She will get fed up in time (they usually spend about 4 weeks or so being broody) and rejoin the others of her own accord.

[di]

Are you wanting her to hatch the eggs...and are they fertile?

I've only got a couple of times experience with broody hens.When Marigold was sitting on eggs her comb went really pale.I wrongly put it down to her not getting so much daylight...turned out she was not only sitting on eggs but also a nestful of mites that were quite literally bleeding her dry!(once we got rid of the mites she was fine)
Don't know if it's the right time of year for them to be a problem but I'd say worth having a check for them.

[Nicos]

My Betty is broody and has been since weekend. I'm trying to get my hands on some Marans eggs for her- ( why is nothing simple??)

And yes- she too has a pale comb- I was thinking that this morning when I lifted out the other chooks eggs which they are laying next to her!

4 weeks?...didn't know that RH- gives me a few more days then with my egg hunting!

[RichmondHens]

They generally will sit for as long as it would take to hatch a clutch - 21 days - and a bit longer either side. Some will sit for longer still. I've got a very persistent bantam who has been broody on and off since the beginning of November!

You really need to get eggs under them before they have sat for too long though, else a) they start to lose condition, and b) they might get bored and get off a clutch halfway through incubation time (this doesn't happen often and is usually breed dependent). I usually let mine go about 4 - 7 days to see if they are serious (I leave them with dummy eggs or marked real eggs) and then put the "proper" eggs under.

[Scarlet]

If she is broody and you have other chickens you should put her somewhere quiet if you want her to sit on eggs, it's contagious! if you leave her with the others they will all gradually come off lay.

[Bramble-Poultry]

nicos - shame you are in France, i have sent out around 4 dozen copper blue and copper black maran eggs in the last 2-3 weeks!

For some reason the UK government wont allow us to import / export fertile eggs into the EU - they are worried about transferance of Bird Flu - like they birds dont fly from the EU to UK anyways!

However, if you get really stuck, drop us a message and i will see if there is a way around it. I hope there is as there are a load of belgian bantams i wont imported to improve the bloodlines!

[Eco-Chic]

Myrtle was broody for five weeks and pulled all her undercarriage feathers out to keep the eggs properly warm.

I got so used to lifting out hot eggs that I'm finding it hard to get used to cold eggs now and find them a bit repulsive.