Broody hen in first laying season and fall???

[mooseb]

I have a hen just about of laying age and she's been in the box for the majority of three days. I thought she was just figuring it out like a couple others did, but when I picked her up today I noticed the feathers are gone off her breastbone.

Do we parasites? If so, what do I need to do? I have 9 hens.

Thank you!

 

[mooseb]

Her bare area is her breast bone and after some looking I'm wondering if she's broody. I didn't think new layers or not yet laying hens could get broody.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Hi, welcome to BYC!

I agree it SOUNDS like broody... but I also have never seen it happen when coming into lay. But after laying a few eggs, OH ya. Doesn't mean it can't though. The more chickens I have, the more things I see, the less surprises me! Breed can play a role in how broody a hen will be.

I would try to break her from being broody. Kick her out of the box a bunch of times. I use a dog kennel with a wire bottom I put in place of the tray and elevate it a little with NO bedding so there is nothing to nest in. Some girls will break in 1 day, others will take a week. Either way, broody isn't good for a still growing girl.

I however would not jump to conclusions but pay attention to the signs. When you remove her from the box does she immediately run back to it? Or does she stand around and pump her tail like she needs to poo? Is she puffed up or does she make a cluck sound? When you sit her down does she stay in that position for a moment before getting up?

Easiest time to see parasite is after they have gone to roost, couple hours after dark... go in with a flash light, keep it dim so everybody stays on roost. Take them off one by one and hold them on their back with legs bent towards chest quickly part feathers near the vent and look for anything running away, do the same to the abdomen. If you do see something, my suggestion is a permethrin based spray because it's easy to use, effective, affordable, and requires no withdrawal time for eggs if used according to directions. There are organic versions (spinosad & others), but were not on my radar or in my price range back when I first started.. and I'm going to use what I have.

Good luck!

 

[dunnmom]

Hard to say, but it sure does sound like she's displaying some brooding behavior. Does she puff up when you, or other hens approach her? Does she resist being moved by flattening her body out? Have any of your other hens been broody recently? Are you certain she has never laid an egg? It could be something else, and you should probably give her a good general check-up to be sure. Especially check her abdomen and vent to see if she's egg bound and then look for mites and lice.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Are there feathers in the box? Some of my hens pluck themselves for brooding while others do not. If there are then that will give you a good clue.

The keel bone wouldn't be the most likely area for parasites to present. But it isn't to be ruled out yet.

 

[mooseb]

Thanks everyone. She's most likely laid a few times before. We have three Ameracaunas and have had a steady two blue eggs a day for a couple of weeks.

She flattens out, make a weird guttural squawk and threatens to bite you when you try to take her out. Once out she will sit down for a while.

There are feathers in the box. None of the others seem broody, thankfully. They are just starting to lay in the last month, and our record is for eggs per day, several days, so far.

We blocked her favorite box and removed the bedding. We're going to go out shortly and see if it kept her out.

 

[dunnmom]

I'm breaking a broody right now myself. I second the suggestion of the broody cage if you don't want her to do this right now.

 

[mooseb]

The kids say she got in the next box over

 

[Sara Ranch]

Can I laugh? A little?

Any chance the eggs are fertile?

 

[mooseb]

I'm breaking a broody right now myself. I second the suggestion of the broody cage if you don't want her to do this right now.

I'm going to put her in the tractor, inside the enclosure. What do you do at bedtime? Not sure if she's been sleeping in the box or not.