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

[clucky chicken]

Hi - being a newbie at the chicken club - I just wanted to confirm if my Black Rock, Gertie, is broody?

She stopped laying yesterday, only comes out of the nest box to eat and drink, and now she's sitting on the other hens eggs. She doesn't seem to be displaying any other signs, or aggressiveness, and looks perfectly healthy. I've tried kicking her off the box, but as the other hens need to lay their eggs I can't shut the door to the box... and as the rest of the family including myself are out at work and school all day I can't keep an eye on her till we all get home about 4pm.

Should I just keep kicking her out when I see her in it, and hoping that she will get the message, or should I seperate her from the other chickens? I do have another run that my husband built, which doesn't have a nest box, but what about at night?

 

She's only just started laying in the last few weeks anyway - is this a bit early for her to go broody?

 

Many thanks for any help.....

[Egluntyne]

She could be in the early stages. I would turf her off the nest and collect any eggs as often as you can to be on the safe side.

 

My Black Rocks go broody regularly, so the trait hasn't been bred out of them completely.

 

Article on managing broody hens **here**

[clucky chicken]

Many thanks to you for the help - I thought she was - but as she's still laying eggs (which I discovered yesterday) I'm assuming not that much cause for concern.

 

I seperated her from the other girls all this morning so they could lay their eggs first, then went home lunchtime to put her back in the nest briefly so she could lay her egg, which she did - bless her! I've now put her in another run without a nestbox and put her friends with her so she won't get lonely! The only other thing I'm concerned about is - what do I do at night? Can't leave her in the run all night but I don't want her to sleep in the nest box either??

 

Any more advice would be appreciated.

[Egluntyne]

Why not bung a football or a plant pot in the nest box overnight?

[C&T]

Why not bung a football or a plant pot in the nest box overnight?

 

 

This one works with mine! (although she has only had half hearted attempts at being broody!!) We put a plant pot in the nestbox before they go to bed. Once they are settled and it is dark, we remove the plant pot. We have to do this, as the other chicken always lays really early - i.e. before we get up - so need to have the nestbox clear for her in the morning!

 

Dunking in cold water works a treat on her as well. If it's the weekend, she gets dunked a few times during the day. She doesn't really enjoy it that much (and I can get quite wet!) but it snaps her out of feeling the urge to sit on the nest!

 

Good Luck!

[clucky chicken]

Bless all of you, thanks - will try putting plant pot in the box tonight - hopefully she will have given up by the weekend! She had a dust bath yesterday with all the others and is still happy foraging in the garden with her friends - so I don't think she's seriously broody - just thought she'd try my patience for a bit! - dear little gertie - we all love her really!!!

 

Will let you know what happens next!

[BeckyBoo]

e.

 

My Black Rocks go broody regularly, so the trait hasn't been bred out of them completely.

 

 

 

I'm so glad it's not just me, one of my original Omlet girls, a black rock has been perpetually broody this year! In fact she only just stopped a couple of weeks ago and is already BACK on the nest AGAIN!

 

BeckyBoo

[smanners]

Yep mine too I wasn't planning to hatch chicks but when Rocky (Black Rock) went broody earlier this year (and nothing worked to dissuade her), she was given some fertile eggs and hatched 11/11

Sadly she was killed by a rogue fox when the chicks were 7 weeks old

They are now stunning hens and a great tribute to a great mummy chook. (RIP Rocky)

[clucky chicken]

Hi again all

 

Well people, poor little gertie was NOT happy about the plant pot!! She tried to sit on top of it, then decided that pushing it out of the way might be a better bet, got generally very stroppy and very clucky, and was VERY determined to sit on that nest box!! In the end she did give up, but sat next to the flower pot trying to keep it warm all evening- and she was still muttering away to herself when I turned in later on - very funny!!!

 

However, she is still eating and drinking and came out with the rest of the chooks this morning, and certainly seemed in a better mood!

Will pop home lunchtime to see how she is today and and if it hasn't done the trick, I will try dunking her rear end in water later - poor poor gertie - you have to feel a little bit sorry for her really - and all because she wants to be a mummy!

 

Thanks again everyone for the advice and your stories!