gingersam Posted October 6, 2012 Share Posted October 6, 2012 hello everyone, i would love to know if there is anything we can do aboout our broody hen, she had sat herself in the nest box and only moves to get some food and water, however this is the hens favorite nest box and we are worried that she may be preventing them from laying their eggs (i dont know if they will lay eggs just on the ground if they cant use their fav nest box). We have four hens in total . thanks gingersam Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redsunset Posted October 6, 2012 Share Posted October 6, 2012 Hi, I don't know if you have more than one nest box but I have also had a broody the last three weeks so have resorted to putting her out at lunchtime as all the others (5 out of the 6) have laid in the am in the other nest boxes and sometimes hers and she sits on the egg. I have closed the door and they don't get back in until their bedtime. Trying to break her broodiness so will wait and see as she hasn't laid an egg for yonks now. Only been a chook keeper for a few months so still learning on here! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gingersam Posted October 6, 2012 Author Share Posted October 6, 2012 thanks for the reply, yes although we do have 2 nest boxes the hens all seem to favour one nest box????not sure why though. i just dont want them to have any health problems from not being able to lay when they want to. good luck with your broody hen too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted October 6, 2012 Share Posted October 6, 2012 It's an unusual time of the year to be broody, I'd pop her in the broody cage or she'll starve herself. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandyhas3chucks Posted October 6, 2012 Share Posted October 6, 2012 My broody has just hatched 3 gorgeous chicks.. these bloomin girls don't read the rule books Shes a brilliant Mum so far, and I would put money on the fact that she was incy bred... Nature bloomin marvelous. At least it is cooler now for breaking a broody.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RyanR Posted October 6, 2012 Share Posted October 6, 2012 If you can't break her leave her. I have seen chickens lay on top of another one so don't worry about that. Just watch she doesn't snaffle all the eggs and drag them under her. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gingersam Posted October 6, 2012 Author Share Posted October 6, 2012 oh my gosh that made me laugh just the thought of a hen laying an egg on top of another one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RyanR Posted October 6, 2012 Share Posted October 6, 2012 oh my gosh that made me laugh just the thought of a hen laying an egg on top of another one. It happens. When you gotta go you gotta go. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roselady Posted October 6, 2012 Share Posted October 6, 2012 Hi am also experiencing a broody for the first time! Little pekin and it started last night. She has plucked a bald patch on her chest and has hissed and growled all day . Locked her out of the run all day and she was demented, hard to watch and not sure what to do either Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted October 7, 2012 Share Posted October 7, 2012 See my post above about a broody cage; it is best to get them off the nest or they will starve themselves and become lice-magnets. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dutchie Posted October 7, 2012 Share Posted October 7, 2012 Both mine just lay on the ground if they cant get to their nest box if the other one is broody, or they sit together in the nest box, if the other one permits. Looks funny when they're both squashed in the box. I only have one nest box, so I think yours will just use the other nest box. When one is broody I lift her out and put a upside-down plant pot in the nest box after about 9am when the other one has laid, and leave it there till the next morning first thing, and then repeat. Usually takes about 3 or 4 days to break the broodiness. In the summer one was really broody and sat on the roosting bars instead all day, so I just locked them out by closing the egglu door during the day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stacey30 Posted October 8, 2012 Share Posted October 8, 2012 My girls actually made a nest in the garden to lay in, we found 21 eggs in it when a broody took up the nest box Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
