Broody chicken, no rooster- affecting the whole group- help!

[bendystar]

Hi, I have 3 chickens. One of which has been broody for a few weeks. She will not leave her box (although I keep collecting eggs whenever I see an opportunity) and she puffs up if I approach her. We only have 2 boxes for the 3 chickens and this seems to have slowed and somewhat stopped egg laying with the rest of the hens. Other than blocking her from the boxes, what can I do to discourage her from her broodiness and get my ladies back to laying for me?
We do not have a rooster- she's just spoiling my breakfast!

Thanks

 

[Judy]

The classic way is to put her in a wire bottom cage with food and water but no nesting material at all. If you have a little wire and some wood scraps around, it might be worth your while to construct something. Prop the box up so there is air flow below her. It may take a while; you can leave her til she wants to move around or lays an egg. I take them off the nest at least twice a day and pester or move them til they stand up, unfluff and start foraging or eating and drinking. Usually they will give up in a week or two. Some will sit with no egg or golf ball and others seem to give up sooner without anything like an egg. The one I have now steals everyone else's egg to sit on. You could try closing the nest box she likes (you only need one for 3 hens, anyway) but she will probably just sit somewhere else. I have also read of putting ice cubes or ice packs under them; not sure that this ever works.

 

[kathyp3]

Too Funny

I am in the same position. I have a leghorn Lilly, rode island red Milly and a australop Tilly (who has gone broody). She sits there and I have to pick her up and take her out. She will then eat and drink and go back in. The other two have to practically sit on top of her to lay their eggs and Tilly is not laying now. I think as its her natural behavior and her first time, I will let her sit and just keep taking her off the nest twice a day to eat and drink. If it gets too long I will try the cage trick. I just hope the other two don't get broody or its gonna be hell in the coop!
Good luck!

I love my girls

Kathy

 

[chickchicks]

one of mine has gone broody too !i gaveup braking her and gave her someeggs to sit on , the other one has stopped laying now as she has no where to go , ive tried makin new nest boxes for her but she is unhappy with everythin i try, betty is too high maintenece

will just have to keep crossing my fingers something will happen