Chicken won't leave nest lately

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rockymountain

rockymountain

Songster
7 Years
Jun 14, 2016
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My young pullet has been laying eggs everyday for about a month. She seems to lay her egg late morning. When I go out around 9am she is on her nest for a long time. Usually find the egg later so not sure when. She is the alpha of my flock of three others. At 8am she was out with the other chickens. Later today noon on she was in the box all day. Well I went out at 3pm and she was still laying in the box, I felt under her and pulled the egg, she didn't move. Well I went back out tonight and she was still laying in the box. I picked her up and put her on the standing pole they all sleep on at night. I noticed the others where all confused tonight as they usually cuddle together and were spread out from each other. I petted her and hope she is okay. I was thinking of going back out tonight to see if she was back in her nest or not. Very strange behavior, I have no roosters.
 
Did she puff up her feathers and kinda "growl" at you when you picked her up? If so, she may be going broody (even though she is rather young). As you are not currently online, rather than leaving this question open I'd suggest that if she does indeed act in the manner that i have described, then you may wish to break her broodiness (type "broody buster" in the search box for further details).

CT
 
She was puffed up but didn't mind me picking her up last night. I researched broodiness on this site, I will first start by picking her up and putting her out in the run during the day and on the roost at night. We are in the 40's at night, so will uncover one of windows for cool air coming in. Hopefully this works. thanks.
 
FYI- to just share. My chicken, didn't have an egg today.
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Must be in broodiness issue. I went out today and took her off her nest and put her into the run. She stayed there all day until I went out about 5pm, and brought treats for everyone. I brought fresh ash from our burn pile. She totaled loved this and took a bath. For some reason our other chickens don't do this? She looks like she is in a hot tub just in heaven. Well anyway tonight she starter to make a run for the coop and I kept stopping her and she ran back out and enjoyed the treats I provided. Well anyway maybe mean, I put Ice-cubes in her nest tonight. Not sure how she will like this? I will return at dark to see if she is roosting or nesting on ICE. not sure if anyone tried this.
idunno.gif
 
rockymountain said:
FYI- to just share. My chicken, didn't have an egg today.
roll.png
Must be in broodiness issue. I went out today and took her off her nest and put her into the run. She stayed there all day until I went out about 5pm, and brought treats for everyone. I brought fresh ash from our burn pile. She totaled loved this and took a bath. For some reason our other chickens don't do this? She looks like she is in a hot tub just in heaven. Well anyway tonight she starter to make a run for the coop and I kept stopping her and she ran back out and enjoyed the treats I provided. Well anyway maybe mean, I put Ice-cubes in her nest tonight. Not sure how she will like this? I will return at dark to see if she is roosting or nesting on ICE. not sure if anyone tried this.
Click to expand...
Not really a good idea...nest will get all wet and that can cause other problems.
Better to block off the nests in late afternoon, after everyone is done laying, then uncover them when you lock up after dark.
Wire crate method of broody breaking is the best, IMO.
 
She wasn't laying in the laying boxes but actually on the lower level that is covered in straw on top of massive gravel and sand about a foot of the gravel and sand stuff. I too thought about wetness, but since she has been laying there is why I used ice. I have to say this morning she was out and about in the run was very surprised. Still haven't checked this afternoon but think the ice and cool air brought in when I put her on the roosting spot at night seemed to help. I understand your concerns tho, and checked her nesting spot this morning and there was no wetness at all. We have been having 80 degree days just coolness at night. I am not sure if this worked yet but thought it was better to try than spraying her down with a hose or shutting her off in a cage. I am new to this issue and learning.
 
Update, I just checked on her early evening and she was in the run with the other hens
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I gave them some treats and check her nest no egg. I guess I will not see eggs for awhile or possible next spring. I did go ahead and put ice in her laying spot as a precaution, to keep her off of it. I was just lucky she layed in a different location versus my other chickens and It worked so far awesome. Doesn't hurt to share, even if my situation of laying spot is different. I guess if they were laying in a box you could put a plastic container under it and provide the ice without having a mold or mildew issue. Also putting her up every night to roost and opening the window for evening cool air must have helped and I was lucky as she seemed to stay up there every night after I put her there.
 
Thank you for sharing. I am now having the same problem. Same situation with my hen being the "Queen Hen" at 30 wks old and just started laying eggs a month ago, yet we can't get her off the nest. We do physically move her to the run during the day and she eats/drinks well. However, runs back to the nest as soon as she can. I will start blocking the nests during the day. How long did your situation last? She's such a sweetie and we don't want to lose her but we are new at this and I don't know if I am doing the right thing. FYI- I checked for egg block but doesn't seem to have a blockage.

Thanks for sharing your situation.
 

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