Pro - Does anyone else's nest boxes get soaked in rain?

[Lorri-d]

Hi Guys,

 

Chickens are all settling in nicely and Zelda who is the eldest at 8 months is laying fine but for the last 3 days she has been spending an awful lot of time on the nest. I thought at that age she would be too young to go broody and that they normally stop laying first or have I got that wrong? She laid an egg yesterday but none so far today.

 

What do you think?

 

Forgot to mention that we changed her food about 3 days ago so could she be sulking and should I change back?? The breeder gave us loads in a bag which ran out but I could find out what it was and buy that, are chickens normally fussy etc?

 

She does pop out now and then to peck about a bit but goes back in after a while and when she's out she looks ok and does eat. She used to be out all of the time apart from when she laid you see so it's quite a change - hope she's not poorly

[Lorri-d]

Feeling like billy no mates anyone around?

[Jools]

Hi Billy

 

It sounds as though she might be thinking about motherhood but she's not there yet. If you keep turfing her out, she'll hopefully forget about it eventually.

 

Let us know what happens

[Lorri-d]

Thanks Jools,

 

She flew over the netting this morning which made dh jump as she's never done this before so Don't think she's poorly lol

 

I'll go and turf her out for a bit and see what happens

Edited April 13, 2011 by Guest

[Lorri-d]

Only thing is, what if she wants to lay an egg and she cant get to her nest? Do I let her back in every so often?

[Jools]

It sounds as if she's not ready to sit tight yet, so I wouldn't lock her out at this stage. Just go out every now and again and move her if she's on the next. If she does sit tight, you'll need a sin bin to break her trance!