In September 2024 I got a bantam silver-penciled Cochin that was around 10–12 weeks old (along with three other young additions to the existing bantam flock). Once the girls started laying at the end of winter she was among them and laid well. When she was about 9–10 months old she became broody for 19 days and then after about 10 days to two weeks she started laying again. I had no idea a hen could even be broody under one year old. Is that normal? She is just now likely getting close to being about a year old next month in June.
I first thought she might be egg-bound and gave her calcium for a few days when she was initially broody. She was so young it didn't occur to me that it might be brooding. Is it possible that the calcium supplementation could have interrupted her initial broodiness or affected her hormones? I have two other bantam Cochins who go broody every summer when it gets hot, and they are broody for months, not days or weeks.
A few days ago I realized she was starting to act broody again after such a short time of laying again. I've tried interrupting the cycle by removing her from the nesting boxes and sometimes it seems to work a little, and she spends time in the run or is in and out (even comes out on her own for long periods daily), and she sometimes seems fine, yet at other times only sits for hours, but is grumpy all the time and more vocal about it than any of the others. I noticed the first time she was broody that she was quite moody and vocal. This time the others are not happy with her, picking at her head regularly when she is out in the run. She has stayed moody even though she wasn't brooding for that period of time when she laid again (several weeks). I'm using a no-pick herbal on her head to hopefully stop the pecking.
I've noticed that her feathers are not smooth and silky as before she was broody the first time, but now feel coarse and rough. When she sits in the nesting box she pushes out her wings to the sides and puffs up her chest to appear larger or wider and she twitches her head periodically as she protests that I might touch her or pick her up. Does anyone know if something else might be wrong with her other than extremely early broodiness? There are no poultry vets that I can find near here (over 150 miles or more away), and the only regular vet that might have considered seeing a chicken isn't taking new clients. They all get organic layer feed with organic scratch and peck once daily along with fresh, homegrown greens and filtered water. Any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. If it's something other than broodiness, I don't know how to figure that out. Thank you in advance!
I first thought she might be egg-bound and gave her calcium for a few days when she was initially broody. She was so young it didn't occur to me that it might be brooding. Is it possible that the calcium supplementation could have interrupted her initial broodiness or affected her hormones? I have two other bantam Cochins who go broody every summer when it gets hot, and they are broody for months, not days or weeks.
A few days ago I realized she was starting to act broody again after such a short time of laying again. I've tried interrupting the cycle by removing her from the nesting boxes and sometimes it seems to work a little, and she spends time in the run or is in and out (even comes out on her own for long periods daily), and she sometimes seems fine, yet at other times only sits for hours, but is grumpy all the time and more vocal about it than any of the others. I noticed the first time she was broody that she was quite moody and vocal. This time the others are not happy with her, picking at her head regularly when she is out in the run. She has stayed moody even though she wasn't brooding for that period of time when she laid again (several weeks). I'm using a no-pick herbal on her head to hopefully stop the pecking.
I've noticed that her feathers are not smooth and silky as before she was broody the first time, but now feel coarse and rough. When she sits in the nesting box she pushes out her wings to the sides and puffs up her chest to appear larger or wider and she twitches her head periodically as she protests that I might touch her or pick her up. Does anyone know if something else might be wrong with her other than extremely early broodiness? There are no poultry vets that I can find near here (over 150 miles or more away), and the only regular vet that might have considered seeing a chicken isn't taking new clients. They all get organic layer feed with organic scratch and peck once daily along with fresh, homegrown greens and filtered water. Any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. If it's something other than broodiness, I don't know how to figure that out. Thank you in advance!
