Broody hen pecked until she's bleeding

[debjs]

We have a broody Brahma, she started sitting yesterday. When we went to shut the hens up she's still sitting but has obviously been really badly pecked in the last couple of hours and the back of her neck is bleeding. I'll get some spray on her neck and and then separate her tomorrow. Have they done this because she's broody? Or because we don't have enough nest boxes? Should I take the eggs away from her? We have 13 hens and 1 cockerel, they have a large run and seem fit and healthy.
Thanks very much for any advice you can give.

 

[artsvarc]

We have a broody Brahma, she started sitting yesterday. When we went to shut the hens up she's still sitting but has obviously been really badly pecked in the last couple of hours and the back of her neck is bleeding. I'll get some spray on her neck and and then separate her tomorrow. Have they done this because she's broody? Or because we don't have enough nest boxes? Should I take the eggs away from her? We have 13 hens and 1 cockerel, they have a large run and seem fit and healthy.
Thanks very much for any advice you can give.

I'm in a similar situation that I posted about earlier. Mine though is getting her comb pecked. I don't have eggs to hatch though so I separated her in a crate.

 

[Sally PB]

separated her in a crate.

@debjs, can you put your broody hen in a crate? A dog crate works well, and the other chickens can see her, but not peck her. Then she is still "with the flock," but can do her broody thing. If you separate her, make sure she has food and water.

 

[coach723]

I always separate my broodies. They are going to claim a nest box or other spot and if it's a spot another hen favors she's going to get bullied. And she won't get up and move, or protect herself because she's protecting her eggs. I have a separate area, parallel to my main run that I use for broodies or new chicks, to keep them safe from the main flock until it's time to integrate. I prevents problems like this, and usually results in better hatches. Mama's don't get upset and abandon eggs, or lose chicks that wander too far.

 

[debjs]

Thank you for your responses, we have separated her from the others with food, water and her nest box, we'll make a more permanent and larger separation area later today. She's only sitting on one egg so I might give her a couple more if she's still sitting, she was off the nest when I went to check her an hour ago.
Once again, thank you.