Bluebell is a mixed breed hen about two years old. she is constantly broody...I mean she walks around puffed up, and clucking like a broody hen will. She is not laying that I know of. She has been doing this since the spring, but yet, I have never seen her set any eggs, or be on the nest at all, until recently. Recently, she has joined Izzy Lou, our broody old Silkie hen, who IS on the nest, on her six eggs. Bluebell has been trying to co-mother with Izzy Lou, but IL doesn't think she needs any help and never lets Bluebell set with her for long. I think Bluebell also acted this way last year, as I remember. I'm thinking that if IL's chickies hatch and Bluebell is on the nest, I might divide the chicks up between the two hens and see if that cures BB of her broodiness, but otherwise, I'm not sure what it is causing this. She seems healthy, eats and drinks well, runs with the flock. I thought about trying to break her broody cycle by confining her, but not sure this would work since she was never really setting on any eggs to begin with, except for Izzy Lou's. Has anyone ever experienced this, know what might be causing it and a cure, thoughts or suggestions?
