Is your dog's unusual barking a secret code for something mysterious?

[purplephoenix]

Hi All

 

Looking for some advice, we have 2 columbines and 3 bantums, we've had them nearly a year, one of the bantums went very broody and the last time it happened we spent a couple of weeks lifting her out of the nest box at every opportunity, then after reading advice on the forum, we put her in a large box in a cool area of the house for a couple of days on her own and this worked a treat and she returned to her pals with no problems. However she has again been broody for about 3 weeks now and the other girls were getting very annoyed as she was always sitting in the nesting box, we again tried the tactic of lifting her out at every opportunity to no avail so we again took her out and kept her separate for a couple of days, however when we put her back in with the other ladies they really had a go at her, pecking her and chasing her, things have settled a bit but they are still chasing and pecking at her an awful lot and she is still broody, we're not sure what to do and feel terrible that they may be doing it because we removed her, but it was fine the last time. We would be grateful for any advice or suggestions. I was also wondering and I add this at the risk of sounding doh, how do you add photos to your profile etc. Many thanks. Hazel

[Jools]

Chickens have alarmingly short memories and may have forgotten who she is, hence the bullying. Is there any way you can site the sin bin within full view of the rest of the flock, even if it's only during the daytime?

[cluckingmad]

Are they free ranging during the day? If in a shared run I'd split the run so they can see/smell her but can't get at her, if free-ranging I'd stand armed with a water pistol and squirt any little Madam who took a swipe at the little one. Worked a treat whe nwe had to reintroduce Nutmeg after two weeks in the house recovering after an attack

[purplephoenix]

Hi

 

Thanks for the replies, they have a walk in enclosure but free range most of the time, well in fact all the time or they kick up a right stink! Our sin bin is a big cardboard box with wire on it, however though this worked well last time I'm going to get one of those dog crate things and at least we can put her with the rest of the girls but they won't be able to get at her and it should break her being broody. She was in with the rest of them today but was hogging the nesting box and the rest of the girls went mad making enough noise to waken the dead, my husband went out and lifted her out and put her in the box, he said the girls immediately were quiet and he never heard them again, he then put the wee one back in with the rest of them this afternoon and all was well, he said they were all pottering about together, and there doesn't seem to be a problem at night. My husband reackons they are fed up with her hogging the nesting box and when they do get in to lay then getting settled on their eggs as they tend to make a lot of noise until we collect their eggs. We are much happier now that we have a few things to try, my husband is going to get a water pistol tonight, it's not nice to see her getting bullied, hopefully the problem will be resolved soon.

 

Hazel

[cluckingmad]

You may be onto something there... hubby just reminded me that when Pumpkin and Lilly were both broody they ran the gauntlet when they came out to eat as the other girls took the chance to have a go at them for hogging the nest!

 

Glad to hear things seem to be improving