Can a broody hen cause others to not lay?

[kaycejones]

Might be a silly question but I've had a broody hen for the last few weeks. She is not super stubbornly broody but definitely getting there. I finally moved her to a wire bottom breaker today as I noticed that my other two girls seemed to be laying less. I was getting 1 to 3 eggs a day pre broody ms brooderson and now I'm lucky to get one everyother day.

My question is could the broody be causing enough stress that the other two aren't wanting to lay?

They don't seem distressed at all, the eggs have been a bit off shape here and there (a couple with slightly wrinkled tips and a couple slightly more oblong than usual but over all ok) and seem to be from one hen based on previous eggs though I'm just not sure which one. Will having the broody seperated and hopefully broken of her broodiness return production to normal or should I be looking for another cause?

The girls are just over a year, they're all three sister BLR Wyandottes if that makes any difference. They free range in my small yard with access to quality layer pellet, grit, oyster shell and water, as well as two nesting boxes during the day and locked up in the nesting area/coop at night (have to bring in the feed at night due to a now controlled rat infestation). Am I being paranoid and should just wait it out? Sorry for the long post, wanted to include every detail I could.

 

[Peeps61]

It depends on how stubborn your broody is about sharing the nest. I have a broody cochin right now, and the other hens run her out, lay their eggs, then she goes back in and sits on them. I just go in and reach under her and get the eggs while she growls at me. If another bird is on the nest, she hangs around outside and puffs all her feathers up at me and growls if I walk over, so she's definitely broody! However, she is one of the two lowest birds out of my laying flock as far as the pecking order goes, so that may be why she gets run out. I think separating your broody will probably help. Any major change in routine can upset hens and the first thing to go is usually the eggs. let us know what happens.

 

[kaycejones]

I'm not sure she was keeping anyone out, but she certainly wasn't budging for them to lay. The other girls were roosting in the nesting area at night and it's close quarters in there but they didn't seem to be effected by her in setting in the nest. I just moved her to the breaker cage today so I'll see what the next few days brings. She's awful unhappy being seperated from her sisters for the first time ever but she'll get over it. Poor gal.