All - As I have mentioned - I am new to this! Thank goodness for the immediate feedback from this site is all I can say! And 2 books and the internet. Here is my latest story. First a recap: I purchased an extra large coop and 8 young chickens (hatched 3/2017) and one rooster (4/2017). A week later a co worker gave me 4 one year old laying hens. For a total of 13 chickens. The coop says it hold 18. I let the older girls run around the yard. I still don't think I trust the little ones - but maybe I am wrong and they will be fine. The first week the 4 gals laid an egg a day. Then "nothing". I blamed it on a sudden swing in temperatures. We went from 60-70 to 95 in one day (Upstate NY). But now we are back to normal. Mid 70s. Last week - we started getting 2 a day. I thought they were from the 8 younger girls. From everything I have read though - it's not likely because they are too young. So the older girls must have started laying again. Here is what I now noticed. One of the older girls hangs out in the coop. All fluffed up in a state of meditation. Sometimes another girl joins her near by. I swear they are meditating. Is this "broody"? Are they sick? Unhappy? To crowded? Stressed? Do they need therapy?
Before to long I will need a therapist!!
Before to long I will need a therapist!!
I would suggest blocking off the nest she brooding in and take away all of her eggs. Everytime you catch in the nesting box brooding kick her out, If you keep doing this she should break in a couple of weeks.
