holz Posted July 25, 2010 Share Posted July 25, 2010 I have a quick question (or two)..... We have a broody pekin (shes been broody for about a week now) we don't mind as we don't keep the girls solely for eggs, however, we don't have a cockrel so she's wasting her time anyway. We've been making sure she comes out the nest box every couple of hours, to eat and drink, which she does do, but she is still getting quite slim - is this normal? Secondly, are we doing the right thing, by just chucking her out every so often? Will the broodines just go away? Someone suggested giving her a golf ball to sit on? Lastly - she is putting the other hens off laying as she doesn't let anyone else into the box.... What can we do about that? They had only just started laying, and now they have all stopped! Any advice much appreciated! Thank you! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tara.F Posted July 25, 2010 Share Posted July 25, 2010 Hi, when one of my pekins goes broody, so do all the others! If you give her a golfball to sit on you will just reinforce her broodiness. You can sometimes dissuade a hen from broodiness but the measures are a bit extreme (there are lots of threads on the subject so I won't rehash them here). They do lose condition when brooding and they pull some of their own feathers out too which makes them look even thinner. I let them get on with it for up to three weeks. If it goes on any longer I try to snap them out of it for the sake of their health. In the meantime, I do what you are doing....turf them off the nest a few times a day. I also offer a few high protein treats, rinsed tuna or mealworms to keep her strength up. As for the others, they will happily snuggle in and lay beside her if they want to. Tara. one final note....be ready for the dreaded broody poo! There's no smell like it on earth! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted July 25, 2010 Share Posted July 25, 2010 It is better to snap them out of broodiness if you don't intend to hatch eggs, as they quickly lose condition and become magnets for parasites. Some info **here** Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
holz Posted July 26, 2010 Author Share Posted July 26, 2010 Thanks for your advice. I think i'll just let her get on with it for a while, and make sure she comes out a few times a day. I'm not overly worried about parasites as she does have a quick dust bath every time she comes out. I'll give her another week or so and see how it goes. I may try and split the nest box in 2 though so the others can get in, as they just won't go near her at the mo! If you let yours get on with items a few weeks Tara, i'm not so worried that it's been a week! Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
