Will hoey

[JM]

I'm chicken sitting for my neighbour's hens, but one of the hens is broody and spends all her time on the nest puffed up and grumbling. (My neighbour did warn me...)

 

I've been taking her off the nest over the weekend, and when she was out she realised she was hungry and thirsty, but she went straight back on the nest again.

 

It's not practical to keep lifting her off the nest during the day during the first half of the week, so will there be a problem if I just leave her to it? My OH said that when he looked in on them this morning, one of the others was sitting on top of the broody - trying to lay her egg!

 

Also when I took her off the nest, she let me pick her up with no bother, but her feathers were raised (like hackles on a dog) and she was trembling as I held her! Then when she went on the ground, she was scratching and pecking and making a sort of growling noise. Is that normal in a broody hen (Mine haven't shown any broodiness, so I've never seen it before!)

 

Any advice?

 

Jill

[Egluntyne]

Can you beg steal or borrow a dog crate for her?

[JM]

I think one of my work colleagues has one, but she's not in this afternoon, so I can't ask her until tomorrow and I wouldn't be able to get it until Wednesday. Other than that I have no idea who to ask!

 

If I could borrow it. would I just put the chook in it with food and water? On the ground or raised up? What about at night?

 

The neighbours have an eglu + run + extension (3 hens)

[Egluntyne]

I'd put it in the run and up on bricks, with the food and drink inside it. That way, she should be safe from predators, and will not be forgotten by her pals.

[JM]

Ah - by the sounds of it, I think it is a bit big (another colleague borrowed it for 2 dogs) - so it may not fit.

 

I'll have a think about who else to ask, but what are the options if I can't get one easily? (The neighbours are back on Saturday)

[Ain't Nobody Here]

This is what I did when I had an eglu & run. I moved the whole cage into the shed at night (still on its bricks). I don't know how secure it would be if you have foxes though .

 

[JM]

Thanks ANH and Egluntine. I'll see if I can borrow my colleague's crate tomorrow.

 

If I can't though, is there a problem with leaving her to it, as long as I make sure she eats and drinks etc during the day?

 

She is interested in food - I lifted her out this evening, and she came when I shook the treat pot, and ran after the corn when I threw some for them! Then dashed back to the run for a drink and pellets before going back on the nest.

 

I don't know whether I am stressing her more by lifting her out all the time

[ajayb]

Hi, I'm going through the same experience with one of my own hens just now. I had really good advice from Barbara/ Tom but the start of her broodiness coincided with a couple of days of torrential rain and thunderstorms and I hadn't the heart to leave her alone in a separate run (even with shelter) ... We tried the constant removal from the nest box and the dunking in cold water but nothing would deter her return, so I've given in for the 21 days it apparently lasts.

 

I still take her out several times a day to make sure she eats, drinks, poos and gets some exercise and I've seen the other hens squashing in with her to lay (she immediately appropriates their eggs!). Thankfully, if they can't get in, mine also lay in a nest they've made in our hay store.

 

I think, possibly, the secret is to take immediate and radical action the minute the broodiness starts - I'll certainly be more vigilant in future! Having said that, the hen seems happy enough (more docile than she's ever been) and, as long as the others can still lay I - personally - am happy for her to 'sit it out'!!

[JM]

Thanks ajayb