Egg bound or brooding? Help appreciated

[Renn]

Hi everyone, I have a silkie pullet who has been laying for a few months now, she has always liked sitting on any of the chickens eggs, but would always come out of the coop once I took the eggs out. Last night when I went to lock the chickens up for the night I noticed she was in the nesting box area instead of the roost like normal with her butt sort of up in the air like she was going to lay an egg. This morning when I let them out she was still in the same spot, I felt under her and there was an egg but it could have been hers or my other silkies because like I said she will sit on any egg that's in there. Normally she would now come out for the day, but she won't come out at all, still in the nesting box area kind of fluffed up. If I take her out of the coop she just lays down in the same position. I got her to get up and eat and drink a little but she went straight back to the coop after. I'm not sure what to do, is she egg bound? Is she broody even though there is no eggs in there? What should I do? Thanks for any help

 

[Chickassan]

Sounds like broodiness. When they're bound the hind end is normally pointed down not up. You can leave her alone until you see if she's serious and either let her hatch or break her broodiness.

 

[Renn]

Well we don't have a rooster so letting her hatch is not an option lol! She isn't even sitting on any eggs in there sense I take eggs out multiple times a day. I know she has not laid in 3 days now though, when I make her come out she eats and drinks and makes this soft clucking sound non stop and then goes back to the coop. Is putting her in a cage the only way to break broodiness? Is there any other way?

 

[Maddison]

Well we don't have a rooster so letting her hatch is not an option lol! She isn't even sitting on any eggs in there sense I take eggs out multiple times a day. I know she has not laid in 3 days now though, when I make her come out she eats and drinks and makes this soft clucking sound non stop and then goes back to the coop. Is putting her in a cage the only way to break broodiness? Is there any other way?

I've only heard putting her in a cage until her broodiness is broken is the only way, you could also get some fresh chicks and put them under her at night, making her think she hatched them herself and she will start laying again once she has raised the chicks.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Well we don't have a rooster so letting her hatch is not an option lol! She isn't even sitting on any eggs in there sense I take eggs out multiple times a day. I know she has not laid in 3 days now though, when I make her come out she eats and drinks and makes this soft clucking sound non stop and then goes back to the coop. Is putting her in a cage the only way to break broodiness? Is there any other way?

It does sound like she is broody. If you aren't planning on letting her have some fertile eggs right now, it's best to break her.

Yes, putting her in a cage is usually the best way to break a broody - what you want is to create airflow around them - elevate your cage. Since this is a Silkie and they don't roost, it's best to have her in the cage with a wire bottom no bedding since she will just snuggle into the bedding and continue on with her brooding.

 

[Renn]

Great thanks for the help! Where do I keep the cage at? In my garage? With the other chickens? Do I leave her in the cage at night too?

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Great thanks for the help! Where do I keep the cage at? In my garage? With the other chickens? Do I leave her in the cage at night too?

If you have room to set up your cage in the coop that would be best, this way she is still basically part of the flock.

see how @aart breaks her broodies POST#8
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...-chicken-attacking-hen.1214691/#post-19376406

 

[MyHappyGirls]

Yep, I agree with Wyorp Rock it does sound like broodiness I have two silkies and they always go broody. They will lay every day consistently for about a month and then one day they stop and they stay on their nest. They get all puffed up when anyone goes near them and sometimes even do this little growling when I try to get them out of the nest. I have found that if you can bring them out of the nest right away ( and keep them out) it seems to help shorten the amount of time they stay broody, but not always and only if I get them out at the very beginning of their broodiness I mean within the first couple of hours! What I do is I take them out of the nest at least every morning and evening so they can eat, drink water, bathe and get a little bit of exercise. If I don't hold them for a few minutes and sort of "wake them up" when I bring them out of the nest they will sit right down wherever I set them and then run back to the nest as soon as they can. Its like they go into this trance and the only thing that comforts them is their nest. When I bring them out I sort of walk around the yard and let the air hit their underside to cool them down a bit, usually they are super warm from sitting in the nest, and then I set them down they go straight for the food, water, or bath and they make the biggest stinkiest poops! When they are broody they get all puffed up if anyone(human or other hen or animal) gets near them and they shake their tails a lot! I think it's so cute when they shake their tails But it really is like a trance one of my silkies gets so moody she will try to fight the dogs if they get near her, my dogs are chihuahua's(small ones) and the dogs don't fight back they start screaming. But since I know this I never let the dogs go out there alone! Also the "Mother/Boss Hen" Happy Feet (she is a black Langshan hen and about 3X bigger than the silkies) she tries to snap them out of it by giving them a little peck when they get all puffy. I think that it is really cute looking too when they get really puffy and their wings sort of spread their rear end goes up high and they sort of do this in a circle. Its like they are saying/gesturing "Stay away from me" I've tried to keep them out of the nest all day before but it was too hard for me because they whine and complain and run around the locked nest until they finally will just sit right by the locked door until I let them back in. It didn't feel right to do that, so I decided to just let it take its course and make sure I bring them out twice a day(more if I can) for food, water, a dust bath, and exercise. When the Broody course is coming to an end they will start coming out of the nest on their own. Another thing that is a sure-fire tell that they are broody is their clean nest. When they are broody the will NOT poop in their nest. I only have three hens and luckily enough time to clean out their nests every morning and check their crops morning and night. Sometimes when they have been broody for a few weeks they will lose weight and won't really eat much so their crops feel smaller. When the broodiness is over they go right back to normal and it usually takes three-four weeks to run its course. Good Luck with your hen I hope this helps a little