- Dec 2, 2010
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I hsve 3 hens and for the past 3 months they have been laying well and have laid every egg in the nest boxes provided. However the hen at the top of the pecking order has gone broody and has been sat on the nest all day. I'm not sure but i think one of my other hens is intimidated and doesn't want to lay in the nes box beside her. That is the only other nest box though. So she has decided to start laying in the straw store.
I tried keeping her in the house and run when i caught her in the act of laying. But she just went mental for about an hour. So i let her out and she ran straigh back to her spot and popped out the egg. So my question is how do i get her to start using the box again? P.s i have given the broody eggs to sit on and i son't want to have to move her to her own quarters.
Will it be okay to just let this hen lay in the straw, then when the eggs under the broody hatch and she leaves the nest i can just keep them all locked in the pen and run without letting them free range, so that she has no option but to use the box again?
I tried keeping her in the house and run when i caught her in the act of laying. But she just went mental for about an hour. So i let her out and she ran straigh back to her spot and popped out the egg. So my question is how do i get her to start using the box again? P.s i have given the broody eggs to sit on and i son't want to have to move her to her own quarters.
Will it be okay to just let this hen lay in the straw, then when the eggs under the broody hatch and she leaves the nest i can just keep them all locked in the pen and run without letting them free range, so that she has no option but to use the box again?