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

[sandyhas3chucks]

Thank you everyone for the knowledge I have gleaned on Broody hens..

But is this likely? had actually read up as I have got 2 pure breeds but was not expecting this , well not so soon or from her.

She is or has been a bright very active youngster, layed since 1st July, almost daily (9 days one stretch) good eggs good shells about 48/50 grams.

She has always taken her time.

But then 3 days ago, having laid her egg in the morning went back late afternoon.(she lays in an old litter box on the floor of the run) her friend was laying in the Eglu

I had to get her out and put her to bed.

Then did the same yesterday but started making weird little noises, also starting to look a little flattened and I thought surely not.

But today all morning no egg.. on nest flattened making noises at me but chorttling and nesting.

Have taken her off briefly to eat but she is insistent she needs the nest which I have put a chiller pad in under the straw

Was planning on doing this AFTER she had layed but not sure what to be doing the right way round..

She is a hybrid black rock, her sister the hybrid Light sussex has been erratic with good eggs no eggs , softees. over the same month.. and coincidentally not layed anything in 5 days..

I dont want to be treating as a broody when there is an egg or egg problem.

Crop empty this morning, bottom feels normal..

[jools+6]

blackrocks arent supposed to get broody my lot have the maternal instinct of satan himself . sorry i cant help . tried a football in the nesting box ?

[sandyhas3chucks]

not yet cos I thought she had an egg to lay. she very manic when taken away from nest. sort of fluffs out and squawks /squeaks, wings apart. taken some straw out of nest. and put fresh ice pack in there. will remove more straw next lift out.

am quite shocked!!!

[fluffy chick]

HI

has she plucked her feathers from her under belly? If she is bald here it is a good indication of a broody. Even hybrids can go broody, just not as often. Incidentally I never had success with ice packs, mine just sat on them until they were warm! A cage is the only thing that worked for me.

[good_egg]

My black rock is also broody. Was worried she was ill at first but she has plucked herself a little bald tummy and it is super warm! Bathed her three times today and had them out in the garden all day and thought she was a bit better but when I put them in cube run she went straight up the ladder (door shut so no joy but she tried). Will try same again tomorrow as not got anything suitable as a cage. Fingers crossed!

[sandyhas3chucks]

well she did lay an egg eventually, yes sitting on ice packs till warm too.

But no doubt now she is broody...

she has started to pluck out a few feathers is acting so weird and manic when off the nest.

I put her and her ice packs and nest in a crate indoors (cold house) and pt the fan on it... she was not amused !! thats when she laid her egg and went shreeking down the garden eating everything in sight.

cant remove nests if she needs to lay...

ooo this is harder than I thought..

they are very determined arent they..

Going to try and keep her very cool to start with..

[Plum]

Love broodies, they're hilarious.

[sandyhas3chucks]

have to say, less of a worry that my usual problems

[Plum]