Broody hen is messing up my flock

[kellie0727]

I have a bantam that's been sitting on 3 eggs for 2 weeks. One of my jersey giants has been sitting with her for a week. This morning I go out and find my other jersey giant in the same nesting box with them. Is this normal? Also I have 6 hens and they have stopped laying since my bantam has turned broody. We have 3 nesting boxes but they ( all 6 ) choose to only lay in the one box that is being used by the broody hen so I haven't been getting any eggs.

 

[iwiw60]

I have a bantam that's been sitting on 3 eggs for 2 weeks. One of my jersey giants has been sitting with her for a week. This morning I go out and find my other jersey giant in the same nesting box with them. Is this normal? Also I have 6 hens and they have stopped laying since my bantam has turned broody. We have 3 nesting boxes but they ( all 6 ) choose to only lay in the one box that is being used by the broody hen so I haven't been getting any eggs.

You need to move that bantam to her own "area" asap. Set yourself up a dog crate or brooder box inside the coop away from the nest boxes. And DO wear gloves. Wait til night time when everyone is roosting for the night and pick up the entire nest and move it to the new area. Your broody will carry on something fierce (thus the reason for the gloves!) but she'll follow you. Make sure she settles down in her new "digs" and keep her separated from the rest of the flock, but that she can still see everyone. Have water and feed close by for her. Let us know how it goes!! You just might have some chicks in a week or so!!

 

[kellie0727]

I'm going to do that tonight. Sometimes she runs out of the coop fussing with her head down and feathers fluffed out. She dusts herself in the dirt and walks around the yard for a bit then goes back. Lol

 

[howfunkyisurchicken]

Just keep in mind, if you separate her from the flock, you'll have to reintroduce her again later (which can be dicey with chicks and will mess up your flock dynamics again). Broodiness seems to be contagious, at least it is in my coop. I do alot of hatching, so I just give them eggs and let them get to it but I know alot of folks can't do that.

 

[iwiw60]

Just keep in mind, if you separate her from the flock, you'll have to reintroduce her again later (which can be dicey with chicks and will mess up your flock dynamics again). Broodiness seems to be contagious, at least it is in my coop. I do alot of hatching, so I just give them eggs and let them get to it but I know alot of folks can't do that.

As I stated in my reply to the OP she should place the dog crate still in the coop but so that she can still see everyone, and the others her. Total isolation isn't what I recommend because as you stated then she'll have to go through the whole re-integration routine.

 

[kmollyhughes]

I usually pull my broody girls because they drop like flies with "the broody bug". Contagious, I swear. I've never had an issue putting mama and babies back. I have a huge flock that free ranges all day with multiple mother and babies of all ages. Some younger pullets might be curious and check in on the mother when she gets transferred back to main coop, but haven't had any issues with anyone bothering them. All about space. Have enough and no one cares.