- Thread starter
- #71
beth1004
Songster
Currently my rooster is barred rock. I have buff Orpingtons, Ameracaunas and a mystery hen. I have teens that haven’t begun to lay— barred rocks, black sex link, Easter Eggers
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Last year I did have another hen who went broody with Betty, but fortunately she wasn't as dedicated as Betty and gave it up after about a week. It does suck to have more than one broody at a time since they don't lay when they are broody. When you only have 6 hens and 2 aren't laying during prime laying season, and they are hogging 2 out the 3 nests, and they are scaring the crap out of any other hens that try to come in to lay, well, it gets to be difficult. Betty does seem to be coming out of it. She spent an hour off the nest this morning, then stayed off the nest for 3 hours this afternoon. I did have to close off the nesting boxes this evening. At least it will force her to roost with the others again tonight. She doesn't seem to be as mad at me either. Maybe tomorrow will be the end of it.What I read also was if you have a broody and leave her be, it can be kind of catching and others might also go in a brood, so if you don't want her to hatch any eggs the she needs to be broken, I hate that phrase.
When my other one went broody she hogged the nest and I witnessed others either waiting to go in because she was in their favourite spot and in some cases I watched one hen go under a bush to lay but fortunately it wasn't suitable and she came back to the coop nest.
I've watched them squeeze in and almost climb on top of her to lay but would she move, no chance.
Again if left it can be weeks before they decide to come out of it, thus not eating properly and their health can deteriorate too.