Happily Posted March 5, 2011 Share Posted March 5, 2011 I feel a bit out of my depth and could use some advice from you all. We got 4 pekins last June and they have been happily living in the cube together with no problems whatsoever. They were only 12 weeks when we got them and so until recently hadn't laid. About a month ago Millicent started to lay and all was well. However she has now gone broody and spends all her time in the nest box. We take her out a few times a day to get food and water and free range with the others, she stays out for about half an hour before she runs back in. The problem is she won't let anyone else in the nest box so Henrietta and Blossom are not able to get in to lay which they have started to do in the last few weeks. In addition it seems to have upset the pecking order. Millicent is normally at the top, but now when she free ranges Blossom chases her all the time and pecks her (Blossom was previously at the bottom), although this is a pain it does seem to settle down after about 10 minutes. The other problem is Millicent corners Henrietta and pecks her very violently and has drawn blood on her comb today, poor Henrietta doesn't even try to get away she just freezes whenever Millicent is near her I am not sure what to do or where to start. Should I put Millicent in a broody cage to try and break her, if I do this will things improve once she's not broody? Also do I put the broody cage in the cube run or somewhere seperate from the others? Sorry it was so long, at least I have one chicken who is behaving - good Poppy! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted March 5, 2011 Share Posted March 5, 2011 Well I've not had one broody yet but my plan will be to put the broody one in dog crate on bricks in run. Guess you can't do anything about the pecking order. It will change as they come in to lay and mature anyway. Purple spray is an antiseptic good for pecks to disguise the blood. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happily Posted March 5, 2011 Author Share Posted March 5, 2011 Thanks for replying, will definitely be going down the broody cage route I think. I will get some of the purple spray to disguise the blood. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted March 5, 2011 Share Posted March 5, 2011 Let us know how it works I'll be posting same problem soon no doubt Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
