lizziee Posted June 19, 2009 Share Posted June 19, 2009 Hi everyone Can someone tell me at what age do hens start to go broody ? My delia is a 6 month old black rock x light sussex hen and seems to have the signs of being broody. It started yesterday she came out as normal in the morning for her breakfast, then she disappeared into the nest box until 2 ish then went to bed at about 7, which is really unusual for her she's the last to bed usually. Then this morning she came out for breakfast then went back into the nest box, at lunch time she was still there so i went in to see if she was ok and to collect the eggs, When i tried to move her she growled and tried peck me and fluffed up her feathers. is she broody ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daphne Posted June 19, 2009 Share Posted June 19, 2009 its a bit early, but certainly possible - particularly as Sussex are known as a broody breed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted June 19, 2009 Share Posted June 19, 2009 Sounds like it! Article re managing broody hens **here** Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jennyhenny Posted June 19, 2009 Share Posted June 19, 2009 I think I may have a broody on my hands as well. One of my Omlet hens (Miss Pepperpot) delivered 4th April was on the nest when I got back from work and still there 3 hours later. She can take an hour to lay but I thought this was a little much. I opened the eggport and her tail feathers were stood on end and she growled at me. I moved her and there was an egg under her, I chucked her out the nest and threw in some spaghetti to take her mind of it and she was fine all afternoon I have just looked out and she was on the nest so I did the same and shut the eglu door, will have to go out when it gets darker and open it up again The problem is we go away tomorrow til Monday so leaving them in the capable hands of my teenage son I have told him once all have laid tomorrow to shut the door. Should I tell him anything else to do. Can't believe it has happened now, typical. Jennyhenny Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lizziee Posted June 20, 2009 Author Share Posted June 20, 2009 Still worried Delia hasn't come out all day, not even for breakfast. she is sat on the nest and the eggs that the other two have layed. i can't get to them as she just tries to peck me and growls. she hasn't eaten or drunk anything today even though i have put some food and water inside for her. broody or ill ? What should i do ? try to pick her up and put her outside ? or leave well alone. Advise please Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daphne Posted June 20, 2009 Share Posted June 20, 2009 She still sounds broody to me, partic as she fluffs up. Ill hens don't usually a) sit on eggs or b) growl. They are too busy moping and being ill. However - does she have any other symptoms? Has she been wormed? You are doing the right thing by being concerned - continue to keep an eye on her. If she is broody then what you do depends on what you want to achieve. If you want her to be a broody then you leave her for a few days to check she really is 'set' on being broody. If she is then you should move her to her own broody coop to incubate. Opinions vary about lifting hens off eggs during the broody phase to eat/drink/poo - some people say leave her to it, some say take her off every day, some every other day. I tend to take mine off every day - and shut her out for a short while. If you don't want her sitting then you need to break her - asap. You can try this gently at first put gardening gloves on if necessary but you must pick her up and take her out, taking care of any eggs under her. She is highly unlikely to snap out of it without some interference. I walk about with mine for as long as I can get away with it, then put her down and shut her out. Of course if you've only got the one house then this can cause probs - where does everybody else go? I put food/water in the omlet netting pen for the 'broody' and keep the others in the run so they can go in the house. If you can't do this then you need to just keep vigilant and do some frantic door opening/closing type organising - I can usually tell when somebody wants to lay. HOWEVER, if this doesn't work (and it won't if she is determined) then she needs to go in a broody cage (ie large cat/dog cage) with wire bottom so she can't get comfy to sit and also has some air circulating for 2-3 days/nights. There are lots of threads on this. It might seem cruel but being broody can make a bird run down (less eating/drinking, exercise and more prone to mites) and you must keep a close eye on them. They do, typically, lose some weight. HTH Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lizziee Posted June 20, 2009 Author Share Posted June 20, 2009 Thanks daphne that really helps she's definatley broody ! I picked her up with fire gloves on, she was really mad with me but it had to be done she had my breakfast in there ! I don't mind her sitting and will keep an eye on her. I might try locking her out tomorrow but not today she looks to sad. Thanks for the advice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Samuel Morse Posted August 5, 2009 Share Posted August 5, 2009 This might sound stupid but can chickens go broody without an egg? Having read this thread it sounds like one of my Light Sussexs may have gone broody this evening. She was out and about earlier, with an egg in the hen house, but since about 6pm is back in the hen house, by her own accord, fluffed up when I approach her and she makes a light shrill noise when I touch her. She also looks a bit in a trance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted August 6, 2009 Share Posted August 6, 2009 They will still sit on the nest even if eggs have been removed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Samuel Morse Posted August 6, 2009 Share Posted August 6, 2009 Thank you Egglutine. I think she is then. She's displayed the same signs again. I've got her out of the house and she wants back in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
