Broody or eggbound?

[eminator]

I have two silkies that have not laid an egg in at least 2 days, and they sit all day in the nesting boxes. They do eat, when I put them in front of it, but otherwise they sit, fluffed out. When I put them in their compost pile pen, they rummage through the compost like the others. I feel like an idiot for asking, but would a hen be broody even without eggs to sit on? Does it sound like being broody, eggbound, or something else? Thanks

 

[love4mychick]

i would say she is egg bound and is preparing to be broody is she a first time mother??

 

[eminator]

Both of them are young (1 year). I am not allowing them to sit on their eggs.

What should I do (if anything)?

 

[Glenda L Heywood]

first they can be broody without being egg bound
silkies are famous for that
also you are doing them no favor by feeding them and not making them get out of nest to eat and drink as the hen will then deficate and be healthier
this is the common procedure for broody hens

now what you need to do is put them in a rabbit cage with wire bottom
at least a wire bottom cage with water and small amt of feed
it takes about 5 days to break them of setting after they start
DO NOT put any thing in the cage for them to lay on
it is necessary for them to break up to have nothing covering the wire

also not a lot of feed just water and some feed

they will set to eternaty if you leave them in the hen house

if you need more help email me PM

 

[JewellFarm]

aahhhhh broody hens, send em my way, LOL.