Broody Hen Thread!

[lpyrbby]

I am on SCchickens. I am watching the price of chicks drop so hatching now might not be a good thing---they were awful last Saturday at the sell? So I am not looking for any eggs now to hatch.Thanks

I avoid the sales now lol. I still have 18 chicks inside that I need to get moved OUTSIDE...ugh. Hopefully some of these new ones will grow up and decide to hatch a batch or three so I don't feel a need to do it myself.

 

[microchick]

If she quit I'd take the eggs and incubate them wouldn't hurt

Almost broody hens are like Arnold Schwarzenegger. They just cock their little heads at you and say "I'll be back!"

 

[silkieRaiser]

Hi...
So this is my first flock and my 2 silkies have gone broody. The first was only for a little less than a week but the second has been lasting for a couple. I only see her outside once a day, just to eat then she goes back in the henhouse and doesn't come out for hours. I have to pick her up to collect the eggs, then after I put her back down and come back later she is back in the box even if there isn't any eggs in it. She hogges the box from the other chickens (and though we have multiple they only use one), and we are experiencing a decrease in eggs. Is this healthy for her and the other chickens? What can I do to solve this problem besides have her hatch an egg?

 

[jnckids]

Hi... 
So this is my first flock and my 2 silkies have gone broody. The first was only for a little less than a week but the second has been lasting for a couple. I only see her outside once a day, just to eat then she goes back in the henhouse and doesn't come out for hours. I have to pick her up to collect the eggs, then after I put her back down and come back later she is back in the box even if there isn't any eggs in it. She hogges the box from the other chickens (and though we have multiple they only use one), and we are experiencing a decrease in eggs. Is this healthy for her and the other chickens? What can I do to solve this problem besides have her hatch an egg?

If you're not going to let her sit, you need to break her. Pull her out and putting her on a smooth surface for a few days, 2-3. If you don't break her she will continue to try to lay a clutch and lose weight.

 

[silkieRaiser]

If you're not going to let her sit, you need to break her. Pull her out and putting her on a smooth surface for a few days, 2-3. If you don't break her she will continue to try to lay a clutch and lose weight.

Like, in her own cage? I know my chickens are really attached to each other.... and would I put her inside, maybe in the old brooder? its pretty big...

 

[jnckids]

Like, in her own cage? I know my chickens are really attached to each other.... and would I put her inside, maybe in the old brooder? its pretty big...

Basically you're making her uncomfortable. Lol

 

[silkieRaiser]

ok. could i still keep her with the other chickens in the coop, just in a cage?

 

[jnckids]

ok. could i still keep her with the other chickens in the coop, just in a cage?

LOL I don't see why not. We put ours in a dog crate with minimal wood chips so she couldn't nest.

 

[silkieRaiser]

ok. thanks for your help!!!

 

[PD-Riverman]

What can I do to solve this problem besides have her hatch an egg?

Being you got Silkies you are going to need a broody breaker cage------often----If you are not planning to let her hatch. You can use one of the smaller open wire dog kennel turned upside down with the plastic tray layed on the top. I hang my cages on the side of the chicken coop. Hang a small feeder/water cup on the side/corner. Nothing on the open wire floor--NOTHING. No hay, no blanket no feeder pan---nothing on the floor for her to lay on---that's why I hang them because if you set it on the dirt of on top of bricks----she has something to set on. Put her in this cage and leave her for 3 FULL days at the least. A day is 24hrs---so 72 hours Min. After doing this most of mine are back to laying in a few days.