4m x 3m Omlet pen, cube, new auto door still boxed and coop light

[gaufron]

I have only just started chicken keeping. I have three Black Rocks all were laying well, (two still are). One became broody in the hot weather at the end of June and won't snap out of it. I remove her from the nest as soon as the others have laid and don't allow her back until the evening. All day she seems happy to scratch around with them and she is eating and drinking well. He comb is pale and shrunken, but she otherwise seems well. As soon as she sees me she rushes to to the run hopping to be allowed in, she even flys if she thinks she will get there quicker! I have tried ice in the nest to cool her down but she sits in the doorway instead. I am reluctant to isolate her we are in the heart of rural Wales and foxes are a big problem as is the awful weather.

Has anyone any had expierence with a hen being broody so long? could there be anything else wrong?

[Egluntyne]

She doesn't sound broody to me tbh.

 

They stay in the nest and refuse to budge and your is scratching about.

 

The shrunken comb and the fact that she isn't laying is a little worrying. Has she been wormed recently? If not, I would put her on a course of Flubenvet as soon as you can get some.

[gaufron]

Thanks for your reply I shall certainly try worming. She only leaves the nest if I actualy pick her up and put her out. She certainly fits the description of a broody hen feathers all fluffed up, monopolising the nest making little "chipping" sounds. Also pinching the eggs of the other birds as soon as they are laid. She seems very hot underneath too which I understand is a sign. Also my Farrier (who keeps a lot of hens) said she looked broody but that was 4 weeks ago

[Egluntyne]

I see....that wasn't clear from your first post. You are probably right.

 

There is some good advice **here** about dealing with a broody hen.

 

 

The broody cage mentioned in the article is the best way to snap her out of it.

[Chucky Mama]

One of my Bluebelles has been broody for about 5 months! She is a greedy chicken and so was only on the nest intermittently in between food frenzies. Her degrees of nest obsession varied from day to day. At times I had to shut the cube to stop her getting in and she would become quite distressed actually at times flying on top of the cube and pacing around it. Other times she would not worry for a few days and then go back to being broody. She now after 5 long months is showing signs of laying again (I think).

[gaufron]

One of my Bluebelles has been broody for about 5 months! She is a greedy chicken and so was only on the nest intermittently in between food frenzies. Her degrees of nest obsession varied from day to day. At times I had to shut the cube to stop her getting in and she would become quite distressed actually at times flying on top of the cube and pacing around it. Other times she would not worry for a few days and then go back to being broody. She now after 5 long months is showing signs of laying again (I think).

 

Thank you for your reply. I don't know weather to be optomistic or not. Our broody hen (Amandine) suddenly decided to revert to normal today and got off the nest and joined the others! I just hope it will last and we will get an egg from her soon. I'm not too worried about eggs but the grandchildren are comming to stay next week for the first time since we have had hens and they would love to find lots of eggs.

[Chucky Mama]

I hope that she is going to return to normal but my broody used to do this and after a week or so looking normal but with no egg laying she would return to brooding on the nest again. Fingers crossed for you

[Barkisland]

My Light Sussex is a broody nightmare! She goes broody on a very regular cycle every few weeks. Once it kicks in she can stay that way for 6 - 8 weeks, then she will suddenly snap out of it and be fine for 3 weeks (maximum) before it starts all over again.

I have tried a broody cage and it just doesn't work with her. The only thing I can do is to turf her off the nest every day and, after the others have laid, I shut the hatch until bedtime. She shoots straight back in as soon as I open it up again though, and doesn't even hang around for her bedtime ration of corn.

[gaufron]

Thanks for all the replies. I'm pleased that mine isn't the only long term brooder, she is fine again today up and out with others and leaving the nest alone. Her comb is still shrunken but it is now upright and getting darker. She roosted on the nest rather than the perch so fingers crossed she dosn't revert.

On another note has anyone discovered Aquamax bedding? I use for my horses and it is brilliant for the hens. It lasts ages deoderises as it absorbs and dries out the overnight droppings, making it easy to pick them up each morning.