broody-ness question

[HenHappy]

Is it really bad if your hen turns broody? My leghorn sits on the eggs and makes terrible growly noises at the other girls, but she lets me pet her and I can even reach under her and take the eggs. The amazing thing is normally she is really skittish and won't let pet her at all! She's nicer to me when she's on the eggs! Betty, my plymoth just runs up and checks if I stole them on her! It's kind of cute, the way she looks at me!

 

[eggchel]

Whether or not it is "bad" for your hen to go broody is really a subjective question that depends on whether or not you want her to hatch eggs or keep laying. It wont hurt her to be broody unless she refuses to get off the nest at least once a day to eat, drink, and poo.

chel

 

[SpottedCrow]

My Silkie mix Penny is hatching air right now and growls and fluffs and it looks like her head might spin around a couple of times. She hasn't tried biting me, unlike Obelisk, a Leghorn, who would go for your throat if I tried to even look at one of her eggs. Leghorns, usually don't go broody...but good luck with yours. The eggs that she tried hatching were duds and her sister Slifer knew in and pulled a "Bambi meets Godzilla" and stomped them all flat. I lost Slifer because the shells cut her foot and she got bumblefoot which I couldn't cure and she died on me. I'd separate her from the others if they're bothering her. I pick Penny out of her carrier at least once a day. I'd lock her out of it and she'd sit on the top of it and Obelisk would pull out her feathers. Right now she looks like a Turken.

 

[keljonma]

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[HenHappy]

Thanks for the info everyone! She hasn't been to bad for now so I'll moniter what's going on. I think once spring comes it won't be so bad cause they get out more....we'll see. Seriously though, I never have laughed so hard in my life to see a chicken growl!!! Never thought that could happen. I just about fell out of the coop!!!

 

[SandraChick]

well you've only heard ONE KIND of growl now! Just wait- you'll hear the aerial danger growl (loud, more musical and higher pitched) at some point. It's used when hawks/ravens are around or in my case, when the see the ball in the air when I'm playing fetch with my dog!!!

Sandra

 

[SpottedCrow]

I certainly agree with broody poop being the worst smelling thing ever!!!
And they hold it so you get a huge pile too!!!

 

[HenHappy]

Maybee this summer she will growl at the buzzards. I have a ton of pine trees and in early spring ALL the vultures in the area like my tree's to roost and mate in. Actually it is really amazing. There are about 30 in one or two trees and when the sun comes up they all spread thier wings to catch the sun! It is a sight! I'll try to get a pic this summer. Then a little closer to summer they take off to nest somewhere else I supose! The chickens sure keep an eye out when they are there though! Those things are huge, but I guess I'm wierd, I love them!

spotted: I am not looking forward to that!!! PHEW!!!

 

[Hunkiedorie]

Just when you think you understand them

one of my hens has gone broody, even feathering her nest and needing to be taken out of the hut for food, drink and a serious poop

.....fair enough, though it is Scottish winter BUT just about every day she is producing an egg which I steal away at speed. I have even been forced into stalking to make sure none of the others is sliding an egg under her !! What is going on....broody so won't lay eggs......aye right !! Ps ..she has beena wonderful hen hatching Poland and Nankin eggs in the past AND followed the broody rules

 

[ChickenCanoe]

If you don't have a rooster or buy fertile eggs to put under her, it's better to break her. The longer she's broody the longer before she lays eggs again. Breaking a broody quickly usually gets them laying again in a few days.
If eggs never hatch she may not quit for a long time and eventually it can be detrimental.