Unsecure chicken perches

[jennym]

Hi all,

 

We have a Miss Pepperpot who is showing signs of broodiness, although she certainly isn't in all-out flat-as-a-pancake, sit-on-the-nest all day broodiness. She lays first, then comes out to eat. The other two manage to lay in the nest, but then Pippa goes back in and sits on the eggs. She squawks and squeals when we open the egg-port, but once we boot her out of the eglu and take the eggs she gives up and is fine the rest of the day. Today when OH shooed her off the nest she had an egg under her wing, and it dropped out as she walked out of the eglu

 

So, aside from collecting eggs promptly and getting her off the nest, is there anything else we should be doing? I would rather not have a full-on broody on my hands, especially as we are going away for a few days next week!

 

Thought we might avoid this problem with all hybrids

[Ain't Nobody Here]

Might be worth putting her in a broody cage? A day and night might be enough to snap her out of it, if she's only showing slight signs. If you don't have a broody cage, a gentle dunking of her bottom in some cool water might be worth a shot!