Broody but no eggs

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coop-er

coop-er

Songster
7 Years
Nov 28, 2012
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I have a young (6 mos) buff orp, she is currently broody but is not laying any eggs. She spends all day in her nesting box and is very grouchy. What is going on here and what (if anything) should I do with her?
 
They do not lay eggs while they are broody.
If you've got some fertile eggs available, you can give a bunch to her to let her hatch some babies for you.
Otherwise, just leave her alone; she'll come out of it on her own.
If, however, you need her for egg laying, then you'll have to prevent access to her nest for a few days till she snaps out of it and begins laying again.
 
Well, first, let me explain broodieness in chickens. When chickens get broody, it means that they want to become a mom. It doesn't matter if there are eggs in the coop, this can still happen. Chickens do not lay eggs while broody, nor do they eat or drink very much. They pretty much go into a trance; However, there are a few ways to break this trance. The way I break it is to pick the chicken up, and put it in a nice, ventilated area. This will give your hen something new to adjust to, so she will come out of the broody trance.

Hope this helps!
 
Big yellow said:
Well, first, let me explain broodieness in chickens. When chickens get broody, it means that they want to become a mom. It doesn't matter if there are eggs in the coop, this can still happen. Chickens do not lay eggs while broody, nor do they eat or drink very much. They pretty much go into a trance; However,  there are a few ways to break this trance. The way I break it is to pick the chicken up, and put it in a nice, ventilated area.  This will give your hen something new to adjust to, so she will come out of the broody trance.

      Hope this helps!
Click to expand...

Well I was wondering because she actually did lay eggs for the first few days of this behavior, but has since stopped (I took the eggs from her). So what is best for her, leave her alone or break the broodiness? She is a great egg layer but I don't depend on them. Thank you for the help.
 
coop-er said:
Well I was wondering because she actually did lay eggs for the first few days of this behavior, but has since stopped (I took the eggs from her). So what is best for her, leave her alone or break the broodiness? She is a great egg layer but I don't depend on them. Thank you for the help.
Click to expand...

It depends on if you want her to hatch eggs for you or not.. I have broken a broody on accident (my own inexperience) but treasure each of my broodys now, even tho I don't need more chickens ( I have 50+) I will never not let them do what their bodies tell them to do. Even if I just put two eggs under them at least its something, I can and do sell or eat the resulting hatch in a few months.
 
Well, it depends on what you want to do. My hens have never been broody, but I would probobly let them sit for a while, then pull them off so they can get the food and water that they dont get while broody. That's just my opinion.
 

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