- Thread starter
- #11
I just realised a possible cause. I had 4 hens - the mama hen and her three daughters - and they would free range in the garden all day. One of the daughters had to be put down in October last year because she kept prolapsing and another daughter went almost permanently broody immediately after. So there was only the mama hen and one daughter to go outside. They stopped free ranging and would just stay in the run all day. I think they were too scared to go outside without the safety of numbers. Maybe they slept in because staying in the run all day (even though they were free to come and go) was boring. The broody hen has just stopped being broody today and tonight they were all outside in the garden. The broody is now back on the perch instead of in the nesting box. I can't remember the last time she did that. So, it will be interesting to see what time they get up tomorrow now that there is three of them again and they can be more courageous.
