I have a jersey giant hen that has been broody for a couple weeks (I have even dunked her in water and she won't quit being broody, now I'm just blocking off the coop) and around the same time she has lost a lot feathers. She acts fine around the other hens and I never see her get picked on...
Today I came across my first shell-less egg. I make sure to have oyster shell in the run but they seem to never eat it. How do I get them to eat it? Maybe I should tell them no treats until they finish their oyster shell...
Update: She was extremely easy to brake. I just put her in the yard with her friends and she did not give a care in the world. I will she if see goes back to broody tonight.
Ok. Thank you so much for the help. I will start doing this tomorrow. My hen has been very gentle to me, but man she has been mean to my other flock members in her time of broodiness. Is it normal for broody hens to pluck out their own feathers?
Ok. I watched my chicken for a a bit and she didn't look like she was straining or panting, and comb and waddles looked normal color... I also found an egg under her...
Update/extra info: she squaks whenever you get near her, and I picked her up and didn't feel an egg (not sure what I'm feeling for though) I moved her to a different part of the coop and she is just laying down
I found my chicken still laying in the nesting box and she has (to my knowledge) been in there since 3:40. How do I tell if she is egg bound or possibly broody?
That stumped me too. I should be expecting red terracotta colored eggs, but I'm getting none! I was worried because she squawks so loud, I was worried it could even be considered crowing. I have started using a spray bottle to spray water at her when she is being tremendously loud. If there are...