Broody hen

littletoni · **Posted:** Wed Dec 10, 2008 2:00 pm

One of our layers has been broody now for a good two and a half three weeks, she has been losing a little weight and her comb is not looking as it once did, so yesterday we finally were able to get some day old chicks for her and late last night we carefully placed them under her removing the eggs she had been sitting on.

Well today she is not taking to them at all she started to peck at them and in the end we had to remove her from the enclosure with them as she was trying to peck their little eyes out

I am at a loss as to what I should do with her she obviously is still broody...so my question is should I try and get some fertile eggs for her to place under her so she can hatch them that way? even thought I have no idea where I would get the eggs I found it hard enough to get the day olds....and I really only have room to keep probably one more layer as it is so any advice from you more experienced poultry handlers would be fantastic Thanks Toni

Peter16 · **Posted:** Wed Dec 10, 2008 2:57 pm

Is the comb smaller and pale? If so, that is normal.
I dont think its the best idea to give her eggs seeing as though she has been sitting for nearly 2 weeks, as her health may deteriorate or she may just abandon the eggs.

Im sorry to hear she didnt accept the chicks.

Sorry i couldnt help out more.

ritaz1964 · **Posted:** Wed Dec 10, 2008 3:10 pm

separate her from the rest, put her somewhere where there is NO nest, only a perch and food and water... after a few days, it will break her broodiness..... or if she is the only chook you have, close off the nesting box completely..... she'll get over it.....

http://www.petlink.com.au

Trawl this site regularly, anyone who has fertile eggs or day olds or whatever your heart desires (well almost), you can fin here... you are in Brissie, it shouldnt be hard to find whatever you like...

littletoni · **Posted:** Wed Dec 10, 2008 8:43 pm

Thanks for the responses and yes her comb is smaller and pale so it's good to know that is normal.

ritaz thanks for the link I will check it out and I will separate her tomorrow and try what you have suggested
thanks again

debbieo4914 · **Posted:** Wed Dec 10, 2008 10:30 pm

Hi Toni,

I've just had to do this to 5 broodies at once! They had taken over the hen house and the ones still laying were too scared to go into the boxes. I put all of the clucky ones into the bottom of my big aviary. I left them there for a week - only because they were quite comfortable there and there was no rush to move them back - and one of them started laying again in that time. I let them out today and they seem to be behaving normally again.

Good luck with your girl.

Deb :-D

littletoni · **Posted:** Sun Dec 14, 2008 1:29 pm

So she has been separated now from the two other hens it got the point where the two still laying were getting distressed and didn't want to go into the box to lay, much similar to what you were saying Deb...so I have my fingers crossed it won't take too long to break the cycle and she gets back to normal.
Day three and counting :-D

littletoni · **Posted:** Wed Dec 17, 2008 7:21 am

So it took about 5-6 days and she is back in with the other two chickens again and she is eating and out grazing and no longer broody :-D

Thank you everyone for the advice.
Is she now more likely to go broody again?

debbieo4914 · **Posted:** Wed Dec 17, 2008 9:25 am

Sometimes hens can be persistently broody and will take any opportunity to sit on eggs, but often they will just return to normal life for a long time before going clucky again.

Make sure you collect your eggs regularly so she doesn't spy a nice bunch of them to jump on!

Good luck with them.

Deb :-D

littletoni · **Posted:** Wed Dec 17, 2008 1:57 pm

Thanks Deb

Ben's chooks · **Posted:** Wed Dec 17, 2008 2:13 pm

that's most probably why mine haven't gone broody yet as i have a roll away nesting boxes.

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