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[Jennyhenny]

Hi,

 

On Friday before we went away for the weekend noticed Popcorn one of our Miss Pepperpots was on the nest for more than 3 hours, lifted her up she growled a little and under there was an egg, I threw her out the nest and she was fine but later in evening I noticed she was back on the nest so I put a plant pot in which she tried to sit on so I changed it for a bigger one and they all went to bed ok.

 

The next morning we went away and left them with my 16 year old son in charge We hadn't gone long when he phoned to say Popcorn was on the nest and the other two wanted to get on. I told him to throw her off and put her out the way so the other two could lay. She went back on the nest later and off again. In the evening they all went to bed. Yesterday she was the same but when it came to bedtime Popcorn was on the nest and then the other two went to go in she hissed at them and they both shot back out. I told my son to get hold of the other two and shut them in the eggport. I was hoping all would be ok once they were in the dark

 

This morning he rang to say she was on the nest again and the other two were making a racket cos couldnt get on nest so he shifted her off so others could lay.

 

We have now come home (earlier than intended) and all three are walking around eating etc, I thought if they were broody they stuck to the nest permantly so don't understand whats going on.

 

Jennyhenny

[Daphne]

sometimes they take a while to decide if they really want to brood - which is why you should always test a broody with pot eggs or non-fertiles for a while to see how serious she is. If you want to break yours I suggest taking her off and shutting her out as much as you can. Providing other entertainment/some sort of change from the routine to take her mind off it may also help. Also try to keep her breast as cool as possible (broodys heat up).

[Snowy]

I agree with Daphne. One of mine will sit for ages in the morning, exhibits definitely broody behaviour (pancake appearance and growls at me when I open the egg port ), but by lunchtime she is off and acting normally again. She is still laying every day as well.

[The Dogmother]

They can do that for ages - if you don't want them to brood, then get them in the broody cage asap to break them out of it.

[C&T]

That's what our Mrs was doing a week or so ago. Growling on the nest, but if something interesting was happening she would come and see what was happening...

 

We dunked her in cold water a couple of times. People seemed to have mixed reactions to this one I know, but we tried it because it was "easy" (saved having to go pick up the dog crate from a friend) and the weather wasn't too cold. And for us, it worked. She also didn't seem to mind it - although she splashed me a couple of times to make sure I knew who was boss!! Just wrapped her in a towel quickly afterwards to get the worst of the wet off.

 

She is now happily being her normal self again, instead of a grumpy teenager!