Broody Hen has some bad signs

[Chickywicks]

Hello everybody,
Recently a one year old Buff Orpington Hen of mine has been brooding quite a bit. We move her off the box and into the run whenever we see her sitting there, but she still sleeps out there every night and spends most of the day there. As a result (or i think) the feathers on her underbelly have fallen off and all thats left is exposed, what appears to be irritated, skin. The feathers around her bald spot are matted and messy and i cant seem to figure out how to get her off the box and get her healthy again. Is there some way short of taking her to the vet that i can deal with this problem?
I know this is hard without pictures but as of now we have no working cameras in the house.

Please help!!!

 

[texasbartrambaby]

I've never had a broody, but I know some on here will have some good suggestions.

I think once that I read to put her in a wire cage to break her of her broodiness; I believe they stated to do it for a week or so. :dunno

 

[ve]

Lusing feathers is natural so she can warm the eggs easy.Put her incage or plase where is nothing to remind for nest

 

[Eggs4Sale]

I read this just the other day. Put her in a wire cage with food and water, and have the cage up on something like sawhorses or boxes, where the bottom of the cage is open to the air. Apparently, the feeling of the air on her butt breaks her of the broodiness. Keep her there for 3 or 4 days. When you let her out, if she goes to the nest box again, put her back in the cage for a few more days.

Also, start giving her vitamins in her water. And check her for mites and lice to see if that's causing the feather problem.

 

[threehorses]

Agreed with eggs4sale!

Especially about the mites- you have to check at night, and a few times during the week, because mites don't always spend time on the bird - only when feeding. They spend the rest of the time in the bedding and in cracks laying eggs. SO check a few times to rule them out.

 

[Chickywicks]

thanks everybody, ill give that a try tomorrow!

 

[threehorses]

Good luck!

Please let us know how that goes, will you?