JB09 Posted May 30, 2009 Share Posted May 30, 2009 Hi all, Last night when I went to check on the girls I noticed that Dolly was sleeping on the nest box, not something that either of my chooks have done before. She was in quite a deep sleep also with her head tucked into her wing - something else I have never seen before. Anyway... they have both been out free ranging all day and when Dolly went in to lay an egg around three o'clock she was taking absolutely ages, so i went down to take a look and she was all puffed up on the nest box. She did however come flying out when she saw the grapes! She had layed an egg so I took it out but sure enough she has made her was back to the nest box. I have never had experience with this before so I don't know if she is broody of if perhaps it is something more sinister. Thanks guys in advance for your help JB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Budgies Posted May 30, 2009 Share Posted May 30, 2009 Hi JB! Well, she's not properly broody yet. That would involve her being in the nesting box all the time, hogging it, puffed up, making angry (new) noises and pecking at you if you tried to move her. Sleeping with her head under her wing is just normal chickeny behaviour. Maybe the heat is making her feel a bit more hormonal than usual, but she sounds ok. If you're concerned, try putting something large in the nesting box overnight (like a football) to prevent her sitting in there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tulip Posted May 30, 2009 Share Posted May 30, 2009 Sounds like she's on her way to broody to me. First of all they take ages to lay. Then they start staying in the nest box after they've laid. Then they'll start checking out the nest box without laying... before you know it they're on eggs (or no eggs) and semi-comatose, refusing both food and water It's currently silly season in the chook world! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted May 31, 2009 Share Posted May 31, 2009 I'd dunk her in water today and prevent her accessing the nesting box for w few days. As it sounds as if d she is only making half hearted attempts, it might snap her out of it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MedusA Posted May 31, 2009 Share Posted May 31, 2009 I have a Silkie who goes broody almost every month. It sounds as though your hen is well on the way there. Having tried other methods (without success), I now put mine in a broody crate for 3 days. It usually snaps her out of it. Good luck, but don't worry about her. Provided you make sure she gets enough to eat/drink she'll be fine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JB09 Posted May 31, 2009 Author Share Posted May 31, 2009 Thanks for the advice. Both my girls are friendly but Dolly is slightly more flighty that Ginger. Since the whole going broody saga she is much more flighty and is walking as though she is always on alert! Does this sound like another trait of being broody? I turfed her off the nest box last night and put a football in there and she hasn't been back since (touching wood!) so hopefully I have nipped it in the bud. Won't count my chickens just yet though! JB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Budgies Posted May 31, 2009 Share Posted May 31, 2009 You may find that things are fine. I was thinking that one of my girls (Chutney) used to do all the things you're describing fairly regularly in summer - she wouldn't leave the nesting box having laid, was fluffed up and would spend ages laying. But I didn't realise that she was close to going broody and indeed, she never did go broody. Once I took the egg out she usually came out right away, or when I showed her a grape or some sweetcorn, so she was obviously never very committed, my girl!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
