chicken gone cuckly

[lisaholly]

hi.chicken always nesting.not laying.not interested in anything else. what's the best thing to do.

 

[krista74]

Hi, and

Is she broody, or is she sick? Does she eat and drink when offered food and water? Does she ever leave the nest? And is she sitting on eggs?

If you suspect she is sick, I'd recommend that you take her to the vet.

If you think she is broody, put her into a wire bottomed cage (like a dog crate) and put the cage up onto blocks. She can have a big bowl of water and her feed in there with her, but no bedding what-so-ever. Also make sure that the cage is protected from the elements - so a tin roof for shade, and if it's wet or excessively cold outside, put the whole cage in the garage so she stays dry.

Four or five days contained in the broody-buster box should bring her back to normal. You can let her out for 20 minutes each day to stretch and dust-bathe, but if she runs back to the nest, pick her up and put her straight back in the cage.

Good luck!

- Krista