4m x 3m Omlet pen, cube, new auto door still boxed and coop light

[surferdog]

OH phoned me at 4 o'clock today to say that Sylvie had been in the nest box since before lunch. He'd been to check on her and given her a stroke (this is the man who didn't want chickens btw) and said she was purring. When I got home at 7.00 o'clock she was still in there. She is puffing herself up and making high pitched chirruping noises.

 

I picked her up (she was sitting on a tiny 32g egg) and put her out to free-range with the others. She complained a bit, had the most ENORMOUS poo and then went off foraging. She acted completely normally while out but went straight back in the nest box as soon as we put them back in the run. Hauled her out again and shut the door. She spent the next 15 minutes banging on the door to get back in but lost interest as soon as the corn came out. I've just been out to open the door so they can go to bed and she's shot straight back in there again.

 

Surely she can't be broody can she? By my reckoning she's no more than 26 weeks old and not even laying regularly yet? (Told you we were working our way through the encyclopedia of chicken problems..... )

[Egg Lou]

I picked her up (she was sitting on a tiny 32g egg) and put her out to free-range with the others. She complained a bit, had the most ENORMOUS poo and then went off foraging.

 

Sorry obviously in no position to advise .. but this did make me laugh

[Christian]

Sounds like she is

 

Leave her in the nest box tonight, but pop a freezer pack wrapped in a tea towel under her. That should sort her out!

 

 

[surferdog]

Thanks Christian! Have put a pack in the freezer to pop in before I go to bed tonight.

 

She's just been screeching at Hyacinth to stop her coming in the eglu. Gratifying as it is to see Hyacinth getting her come-uppance, I can't really leave her out all night so have had to supervise the bedtime routine

 

Hopefully the pack will do the trick.

[surferdog]

Sorry - another quick question. Have just been out to put the ice pack under Sylvie (who is still in the nest box) and she smells absolutely vile! Is this related to her condition or some new problem I need to worry about? (Think that will take us on to #5 in the chicken bible, after softies, bullying, crowing, broodiness....... )

[Rolo Rabbit]

Our Shirley is doing exactly the same thing so I've shut the nesting box door . She was furious with me this morning and had a very long rant. Haven't noticed any particular smells though...

 

Any success with the ice block?!?

[surferdog]

Hi Rolo. The ice pack appeared to have done the trick overnight (thanks Christian ) and Sylvie came out with the others this morning. She disappeared later and I found her in the nestbox sitting on Coco's egg. Turfed her out again and put another ice pack in the nest box. BTW the smell had gone so don't know what that was all about I had a good old sniff Thank goodness my garden isn't overlooked! ('Hey, that weird woman next door is sniffing those chickens now )

 

Normality appears to have broken out now - no fighting, crowing or brooding so fingers crossed ...... All happily dustbathing together.

 

Think they might have realised I was getting a bit despondent and are on their best behaviour..... I'm sure it won't last

[surferdog]

Rolo, just noticed your chooks seem to be about the same age as mine. I had no idea they could go broody so young.