balti Posted June 11, 2012 Share Posted June 11, 2012 Hi Introduced 3 silkies a few weeks ago and noticed last night that one of them was on her lonesome In her nesting box looking a little hypnotised. Came home today and she is still there. She has a Deep growl when you go near her. I sprayed her but she is still not moving, I noticed only 2 or 3 Eggs under her. Thought there had to be more for a chicken to go broody and refuse to get off. Is is ok to try And lift her off ? She will probably have a go at me just don't want to cause her Any distress. Sorry none of my other chickens have ever done this to me, I heard silkies are known for it but Wondered ow agressive they may get ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duncan08 Posted June 11, 2012 Share Posted June 11, 2012 If she is growling at you sounds like she could be a broody. I made a mistake with one of mine three weeks into chicken keeping and she was actually very poorly. But she wasn't growling she was just sitting, not eating and drinking, as I had no experience of what was "normal" chicken behaviour wasn't sure what to expect. A poorly hen is usually quiet rather than aggressive. Its not particularly anything to do with the eggs, we collect ours regularly throughout the day and our Pepperpot was still broody last year. Its up to you how you want to deal with it, I left mine to it, collected the eggs regularly, turfed her out of the nest box to eat and drink and took her for a walk around the garden telling her she was wasting her time as there was no daddy, lasted about 3-4 weeks and took her 6 weeks or so to start laying again. They will lose condition during this time. There are lots of threads on dealing with broodies on the forum, personally I like the hanging them from a tree in a cage to let the air get at them. Makes perfect sense really, keeps them cool and in the shade with a good draught. More traditional though is to put the broody in a dog crate with no base on bricks for 3 days and nights. The other method is dunking in cold water, not too keen on that one, especially after trying it with my poor girl who wasn't broody just poorly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reikiranf Posted June 11, 2012 Share Posted June 11, 2012 Our Dottie went broody last year decided to let it run it's course, but after 2 months started dunking her in a bucket of water to no avail and after 3 months resorted to the puppy crate & she snapped out of broodiness in about 48 hours. She's just gone broody again I think I'll dig out the puppy crate tomorrow, I find it really worrying when she's hardly eating or drinking. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gongladosh Posted June 11, 2012 Share Posted June 11, 2012 if you get velociraptor noises when trying to move her off the nest, she'll be broody. I'd invest in a broody cage if I were you! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
balti Posted June 12, 2012 Author Share Posted June 12, 2012 oh bleeding god. After reading Duncan's post that suggested 'hanging them from a tree', I went back 3 times to read that line before i picked up on the 'cage' bit... Thought that was a bit strong. When i put my hand near her, she growls. Looks quite sweet though. Scared she will have my hand off so pull away. I have 2 dogs and i cant get out of my head, that the growl is a warning -) Anyway its not stopped raining for days, as you all know so i might lift her out tonight and shut the eglu door so we cant get it. Today will be 3 days and im not sure what shes drinking or eating. I have read some posts on here and might leave her too it. I cant see her letting the others in to lay though. I have a dog crate but the chicken will get wet, even if i cover it - ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
balti Posted June 12, 2012 Author Share Posted June 12, 2012 i pulled the tray out and she came with it - i found her on 7 eggs! all toasty, she then straight away pecked one of the eggs, broke it and ate the middle - 2 other silkies joined in. Is that normal? Are the other eggs ok to eat? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duncan08 Posted June 12, 2012 Share Posted June 12, 2012 I think Dogmothers grandfather used to do it, (sorry if thats wrong) I still think its a good idea if you have a suitable tree, the bird is sheltered from sun and rain and gets lots of cool air around her. But yes in a cage Don't let her sit on the eggs, take them all off her or she will get worse and keep checking as she will sit on anyones. The eggs will be fine to eat. I left my broody to it, but everyone has their own way to deal with it. Do you have a shed or garage or corner of the kitchen you could set up a broody cage in? Ideally she should stay with the others but not if she is going to get wet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
balti Posted June 12, 2012 Author Share Posted June 12, 2012 she mooched around garden briefly coo-ing then went straight back in, and searched for the eggs - i then tried to get her out and she growled then went for my hand - so leaving her in there for the moment as off to vets with dog -) On return will take her out and shut the door so she cant get in - still access to run though, she may cool off a little in the rain!.. Things we have to do. crate will be last resort as no where really to put in out of rain. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
