Broody Australorp?

[Disheygirl]

I have an Australorp who is about six months old (obviously her first year of laying). She‘s been regular since she started - still small eggs but one every day. Today she went in and is just sitting there. If I open the coop door and reach out to her, she puffs her feathers up and makes some really weird velociraptor noise. She’s been in there for about five hours now. I read that they usually don’t go broody in their first year, but did I just get lucky? No rooster.

 

[JustBabyMargo]

I have an Australorp who is about six months old (obviously her first year of laying). She‘s been regular since she started - still small eggs but one every day. Today she went in and is just sitting there. If I open the coop door and reach out to her, she puffs her feathers up and makes some really weird velociraptor noise. She’s been in there for about five hours now. I read that they usually don’t go broody in their first year, but did I just get lucky? No rooster.

My Orpington went broody at about this age too!

 

[rosemarythyme]

Sounds like she's broody but you'll know for sure if she stays in there even at night. If you have no plans for her to hatch/raise chicks, best to begin breaking her immediately.

 

[Disheygirl]

Sounds like she's broody but you'll know for sure if she stays in there even at night. If you have no plans for her to hatch/raise chicks, best to begin breaking her immediately.

Yep, I kicked her out this afternoon but she was in there when I went to lock them up. Break her = put her in a wire-bottomed cage for a few days?

 

[rosemarythyme]

Yep, I kicked her out this afternoon but she was in there when I went to lock them up. Break her = put her in a wire-bottomed cage for a few days?

Yup, caging her is the most effective way to do it.

 

[Disheygirl]

Yup, caging her is the most effective way to do it.

When I kick her out, she doesn’t come back until night...is this some half broody thing because she’s so young? She won’t leave on her own, but when I push her out, she goes and eats, drinks, dust bathes, grazes, etc with everyone else till night.

I have a bunch of wire bottom cages because we have rabbits, but I don’t want to traumatize the poor girl if I don’t have to. Could I put her in a wire bottom hutch (bigger than the typical cage) or are they supposed to sit in a small area?

 

[cherrynberry]

When I kick her out, she doesn’t come back until night...is this some half broody thing because she’s so young? She won’t leave on her own, but when I push her out, she goes and eats, drinks, dust bathes, grazes, etc with everyone else till night.

I have a bunch of wire bottom cages because we have rabbits, but I don’t want to traumatize the poor girl if I don’t have to. Could I put her in a wire bottom hutch (bigger than the typical cage) or are they supposed to sit in a small area?

Hard to tell without seeing her myself. Some hens will scream even when they are just laying. And some hens like to sleep in nesting boxes. Sounds like she is thinking about being broody though.

 

[Disheygirl]

Hard to tell without seeing her myself. Some hens will scream even when they are just laying. And some hens like to sleep in nesting boxes. Sounds like she is thinking about being broody though.

This is her puffing up and screeching at me. I put her in a wire cage and now she’s throwing a fit in there. It’s a good sized rabbit cage so not too-too small and she can walk around a bit. Also put those rabbit feet savers - they have holes but they are a bit more kind on feet - in the bottom. Do I separate her from the flock? Cover the cage? What’s the fastest way to be done with this? haha

 

[cherrynberry]

This is her puffing up and screeching at me. I put her in a wire cage and now she’s throwing a fit in there. It’s a good sized rabbit cage so not too-too small and she can walk around a bit. Also put those rabbit feet savers - they have holes but they are a bit more kind on feet - in the bottom. Do I separate her from the flock? Cover the cage? What’s the fastest way to be done with this? haha

She does look broody. Keep her pen either in a predator proof run, or in the coop. Try to put it somewhere with airflow. Some people put them in their garages.

 

[JustBabyMargo]

This is her puffing up and screeching at me. I put her in a wire cage and now she’s throwing a fit in there. It’s a good sized rabbit cage so not too-too small and she can walk around a bit. Also put those rabbit feet savers - they have holes but they are a bit more kind on feet - in the bottom. Do I separate her from the flock? Cover the cage? What’s the fastest way to be done with this? haha

So cute!