Egg Bound Or Just Broody??

[Chickie Mamma]

Hello, this may be a dumb question and I am sure it has been covered before, but the last 2 days, my Buff Orphington "Lucky" has been laying on her nest constantly. I put golf balls in there to stop the egg eating, (hasn't worked too well) She is laying on the golf balls. I always take the eggs out the same day they are laid so I have never noticed this before. My worry is that looking at her I noticed her back is "raised" also while she is laying on the golf balls. She has not laid an egg in a while, could she be egg bound? She seems fine otherwise, eating, drinking, nice bright red comb. Would it be more obvious if she IS egg bound? And is it cruel to have her think she can hatch the golf balls? Thanks for any help..

 

[Poohbear]

Probably a setting hen. Do you have somewhere to isolate her in a pen or coop by herself with no nest for a week? Broody hens will set on anything. You'll just have to keep her off the nest for a few days until her body temperature cools down. She will also be in a bad mood for a few days too. Just think of her as a woman that was expecting a diamond ring for Christmas from her husband and instead received a vacum cleaner from him

 

[LunaBaby]

I had a hen did that once (just like you described) and I thought she might be egg bound. I read somewhere on the forum about putting a hot pack under them to help them out. So I got the wet, hot wash cloth into a baggie, zapped it, and scooted it under her. As soon as her behind hit it, she jumped off the eggs and never did it again.

 

[Chickie Mamma]

Good Comparison! She just laid an egg, so its confirmed she is just broody. My 3 hens are 2 years old and I have never seen any go broody until now. Thanks for the reply!!

 

[Chickie Mamma]

Quote:
Ouch!! Is it unhealthy to break that cycle? I have some hatching eggs coming next week. Should I try to sneak them in her nest? I was thinking about it. Or would she notice the difference between the golf balls and the real eggs?

 

[LunaBaby]

It wasn't that hot but she didn't like it. The eggs wouldn't have hatched any way, no roo. I was really concerned she might have been egg bound and the sitz bath and Vaseline were lined up ready to go. I didn't want to traumatize her by getting drastic if something simple would work. Seeing as she wasn't egg bound, it was just as well.
You could try sneaking in the eggs and see if she notices. Maybe try a couple to start.

 

[Poohbear]

I use surrogate hens to hatch single mated eggs. If the hen is setting, quietly put the eggs under her at night and she will continue to set on them until they hatch.

 

[Laskaland]

Quote:
OOO. I hope that didn't happen to you? Ouch!