broody or not broody?

[calvincoop]

I have two hens that have been acting very broody for about a week now. they're walking around with their feathers all fluffed up and making that broody clucking noise, plus they're super grumpy and making screaching noises when I approach them. the only thing is they're not sitting on any eggs in their nest boxes. in fact, they're still laying everyday. they are not spending any extra time in the nest boxes or anything. I'm confused, they're definitely hormonal but I can't tell if they're broody because they're not exhibiting the classic broody behavior of sitting in the nest box all day. any thoughts?

 

[Scooter&Suzie]

I have two hens that have been acting very broody for about a week now. they're walking around with their feathers all fluffed up and making that broody clucking noise, plus they're super grumpy and making screaching noises when I approach them. the only thing is they're not sitting on any eggs in their nest boxes. in fact, they're still laying everyday. they are not spending any extra time in the nest boxes or anything. I'm confused, they're definitely hormonal but I can't tell if they're broody because they're not exhibiting the classic broody behavior of sitting in the nest box all day. any thoughts?

Are there eggs in there? Or do you remove them everyday? If you are taking away the eggs that might be why they aren't sitting on the nest.

 

[calvincoop]

That makes sense. Yes I collect the eggs daily. Should I be doing something differently? Thanks for your response!

 

[calvincoop]

more info: they're both 2 years old. one is a buff orpington and she's been broody several times before and she would sit on the nest even if there were no eggs. the other is a spelled Sussex.and she has never been broody before.

 

[cburnstein]

I am having the same trouble with one of my one year old Araucanas chickens. She will sit in the nest box all day and night if I dont remove her. We dont even have a rooster so there is no possiblilty of babies. I am worried about her eating enough and drinking enough water. How long will this last and how can I make it stop?? None of the other chickens are doing this. Let me know if you find something that helps.

 

[Scooter&Suzie]

I am having the same trouble with one of my one year old Araucanas chickens. She will sit in the nest box all day and night if I dont remove her. We dont even have a rooster so there is no possiblilty of babies. I am worried about her eating enough and drinking enough water. How long will this last and how can I make it stop?? None of the other chickens are doing this. Let me know if you find something that helps.

The quickest way to make them stop going broody is to buy a few fertile eggs and put them under them. Once they have babies they will stop. Of course then you have some babies on your hands. And you also need to figure out how to deal with a broody.

I would recommend taking her off the nest and putting her on the other side of the run. She will then go potty, eat, and drink, before going back on the nest. She should stop in a couple or so months.

 

[Scooter&Suzie]

That makes sense. Yes I collect the eggs daily. Should I be doing something differently? Thanks for your response!

If you WANT them to be broody leave the eggs (or some golf balls). If you don't, just keep doing what you have been doing.

 

[calvincoop]

When my BO goes broody I put her in chicken jail (the run) and close all the doors so she can't access the nest boxes. I make sure she has plenty of food and water of course. she's never particularly happy about it and she paces back and forth while saying bad words in chicken language. she usually snaps out of it after about a week or so.

 

[chookhead]

if u you leave the eggs to become like a clutch of eggs say 12-16 eggs they will sit mine did that as well lol they wanna sit but there arent any eggs some hens the eggs makes a difference soem hens it doesnt

 

[calvincoop]

I would love for my hens to experience motherhood but I'm afraid I do not have room for any more chickens.