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

[Vicky40]

Hi

 

I'm a little worried about Blanche. We have only had her for 4 days but today she has spent most of her time sitting alone up in the nesting box. We have had 2 eggs from her this week but nothing today.

 

Do you think she could be broody already or am I over reacting? Its difficult as I am just getting to know the chickens so dont know if this is normal for her. So far she has laid in a morning so as its the afternoon I've put her in the run outside now and shut the cube door so she cant get back into the nesting box. She's not very happy about this and keeps climbing the ladder, pecking at the door and making noises!

 

She is eating and drinking well. Please can you tell me if I've done the right thing?

[po]

hi

certainly sounds like shes gone broody to me.

ive got a hybrid whos broody at the moment, just keep moving her off the nest after the others have all laid then close the door till just before dusk.

you can try to snap her out of it, but to be honest i dont bother. it only seems to last a week or so then she's back to normal

[Vicky40]

Thanks for the reassurance . Does your broody hen make a lot of noise? Blanche is very vocal and is letting everyone know how upset she is with the situation. Its only our first week so I hope the neighbours dont hear her and start to complain....!

[po]

yes she can get a little loud, but mainly just sulks because shes locked out of the nest.

when she realises she cant get back to the nest she usually finds somewhere quiet to perch.

but as soon as the door to the nest opens shes in there like a shot!

[Carol U]

Could be a little early to diagnose her being broody. It's possible that having had her normal routine disrupted when she came to you, it has affected her egg laying. I would be inclined to let her go into the nest box for now - just in case she's just taking more time than usual to lay. One of mine is sometimes fine, but at other times quite temperamental about laying and makes a big fuss until she is left completely alone to do it in private. Just make sure she is eating and drinking still.

[Tweety]

As long as she seems to be ok and is eating and drinking well, I wouldn't worry too much. You will know if she is broody as she will puff herself up like a feathery pancake in the nest and will object very strongly when you try to move her off it.

[craftyhunnypie]

Had my Audrey (gingernut) in June 2006, by August she went broody for about 8 weeks in total. So young, but so broody. She sort of wobbled about with wing outstretched, protecting her invisible chicks.

 

Emma.x

[Egluntyne]

Normally you have to turf them off the nest to encourage them to eat when they are broody.

 

They fluff themselves up and turn very pecky and nasty too.

 

They stop laying also, so I would guess she isn't broody.

 

It is less common at this time of year .

Edited November 22, 2008 by Guest

[chickenanne]

I'm not convinced it really sounds like she's broody, for the same reasons as Egluntine.

Its a bit cold for broodiness, too!!!

I would keep an eye on things - if she's only jsut started laying it could be that she's yet to get into teh swing of things, or just a bit out of synch with the move.