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

[-sarahjayne]

Only had the girls 2 months, and everything has gone great until now.

 

Tonight we are getting up at 1am to catch a flight at 5 am to go to salou (spain) our family holiday.

But Esmee has turned broody today

She layed an egg at 9am, and sat in there until 11 so i went to look and she was all puffed up like a ball with the egg under her chest.

I moved her off the egg with no problems as she's not an agressive chook

But 2 seconds later she went back in, and I have to keep removing her.

 

Problem is we have a house-sitter coming to house and pet sit for us for the week, she doesnt have experience with chooks but is a trained vetinary nurse.. However we also have various other pets and wanted to make it as easy for her as possible.

What should we do? Is it a problem that Esmee is broody? Is there a way to snap her out of it

 

It had to happen just as we were going on holiday

Edited August 30, 2009 by Guest

[Ain't Nobody Here]

I had a similar problem in the summer. There's not a lot you can do about it unless your chicken sitter is going to be there a lot . I just had to leave her to it but when we returned, I put her straight into a broody cage which sorted her out within 3 days & nights.

 

Hope you have a great holiday . (And don't worry, she'll be fine .)

[-sarahjayne]

UPDATE

 

So we just got home and she is still extremely broody, refuses to eat but managed to get down a few pieces of sweet corn and haven't seen her drink at all.

She's not agressive and will allow being taken off the nest but goes straight back in, she makes strange noises all the time aswell

 

I guess its just a waiting game until she gives up.

Bless her.

[Ain't Nobody Here]

Welcome home .

 

You'll need to keep an eye out for her losing condition - they can sit on the nest at the expense of looking after themselves .

 

Do you have a pet carrier or similar that you can put her in? That should snap her out of it quite quickly.

[-sarahjayne]

Yes I have one of these :

 

 

 

Not sure where I would put it though? in the wir?

Ive dusted her with lice powder incase of any unwanted visitors appearing.

She will only eat if its out of my hand

[abwsco]

Personally I think you'd be better with something like a dog crate so that you can raise it up on bricks so she's cold air circulating all around her. You need to keep her in it day and night though. If your WIR is secure she'll be fine in there for a few days.

[Ain't Nobody Here]

True, you would be better with one of these. I got this off Ebay for about £20.