chooklady Posted July 12, 2009 Share Posted July 12, 2009 I am wondering if my Corton Blue is turning broody; she makes very strange noises if I open the nest box and she is in there and she has been in there most of the day on and off, she has been laying but I'm wodering if this is the beginning, We've had no experience of a broody so I'm just wondering what you think, she tries to peck you if you put your hand in the nesting box. She also flufs out all her feathers if you try and touch her. Having said this my Columbine is displaying similar behaviour, funny they are both green egg layers. Any advice will be gratefully received as I'm not sure how to deal with this. Many thanks Nicola Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted July 12, 2009 Share Posted July 12, 2009 Sounds like a broody to me . The only thing that worked for me was a broody cage (a puppy crate I got off Ebay for £20). The quicker you can put them in it, the quicker they'll snap out of it, in my experience . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chooklady Posted July 13, 2009 Author Share Posted July 13, 2009 Thanks. She laid late yesterday and she's in there again this morning and she turfs the other chooks out, no wonder they have been a bit noisy the last few days. I do have a dog crate but it's rather large! I will have to dig it out of the shed. She is sitting on my lap as I write this so the others have got a chance to get in the nesting box. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted July 13, 2009 Share Posted July 13, 2009 I don't think the size matters too much . Just put it up on bricks or something so the air can circulate underneath her. You'll need to put food and water in too obviously . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chooklady Posted July 13, 2009 Author Share Posted July 13, 2009 I don't think the size matters too much . Just put it up on bricks or something so the air can circulate underneath her. You'll need to put food and water in too obviously . I wasn't worried about it's actual size, it's just awkward to lift and move about because it's so big. Misty has actually spent the day in the guinea pig's run, minus the guineas of course. It was easier than digging the crate out of the shed. I've put her back in with the others to roost. We will just have to see what happens tomorrow. The fact that she was on some grass seemed to take her mind off things a bit. If that doesn't work then I'll get the crate out and do as you suggest. Many thanks Nicola Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eggscombobulated Posted July 13, 2009 Share Posted July 13, 2009 Hi, we had our lovely girls from Omlet with our cube in Oct. In April our broody hen displayed all the symptons you spoke about and it lasted 3-4 weeks. 2 weeks ago she began again and the long and short of it is she is sitting on 7 fertilised eggs and will not shift from them! She is in a rabbit run within the cube , so separate. Next Sunday or Monday is D-Day and we shall see if the eggs hatch. Mother Nature is an amazing thing.....apparently it is unusual for a hybrid to be broody........and twice?! We are very excited.......not long to go now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted July 13, 2009 Share Posted July 13, 2009 Article about managing broody hens **here**. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
