Nacktschnecken omlet Cube

[jlegg]

Our Cream legbar has been broody now for a few weeks, we chuck her out of the nest box and she resumes her normal chicken behaviour eating drinking scratching about etc, then she pops back in the nest box fluffs herself up and will not move, the others have to lay around her and she then rolls those under her tummy and will stay there until you you push her off again.

As we have loads of baby toads in the garden they are not out free ranging so are penned for a bit but I have now put another run around the outside of teh normal one which does not have a house but has water and food in the hope that she will give up this broody thing, but it will mean the other two can have a nest box and house to them selves! Its been way over three weeks! the other two are quite happy laying eggs though the bantam only one or two a week at the moment.

Is what i have done ok do you think? Is this also normal, shes not ill and has become very friendly, in fact she quite likes her lice powder these days, she will still have a squabble with the others if they get to the strawberries I give them as a treat before her - so shes definatley fine!

[Roobaloo]

I'm no expert but I think 3 to 4 weeks is common, even longer with some hens, unless you take firmer action and put her in a broody cage (a dog crate raised on bricks, with food and water) to cool her down and stop her nesting.

 

If your girls lay at the same time of day, I would offer them alternative nests (a box on it's side with straw in it will do) and when they're done, block all the nests with large stones/bricks to prevent the broody returning.

 

So long as she is getting up to eat, drink and poo...you can leave her to it if you wish!

[abwsco]

Personally I would snap her out of it either by using a broody cage - I got a cheap dog cage off ebay or by dunking her in cold water.

[jlegg]

I have decided that chickens are definately very strange but very lovable animals, they never stop making me laugh with thier antics and they are rather bright - however when it comes to this broody thing they do make me wonder, especially after three weeks sitting on nothing that they would realise that its time to give up. i don't mind the loss of eggs so much. Though I don't like to see her stuck inside when i know how much she loves being out rummaging around the garden though lately they are all penned up, one because they discovered my next door neighbours garden - not a good move - very Chelsea style not really the place for scratching chickens! i thought i would break the habit. maybe it was the withdrawl of freedom to get into teh nieghbours garden that sparked the broody protest? Then when the toads left the pond I didn't want them eating them as they are protected, and rather cute!

 

i think my non chicken owning friends think I've lost the plot! Perhaps I have. i will see how the new plan goes , failing that is the cage thing - I diont fancy teh idea of putting her fluffy bot in cold water seemed a bit sad somehow.

[jlegg]

back to normal plan worked!