girls not coming out of the coop for days/weeks?

[bayside chick]

Sorry if this is a dumb question , or one I should already know...

We have 3NH Reds , 2 White Silkie Bantams , and one small Porcelian (sp?) Bantam , the last one being the youngest. They are all laying , or atleast had been before the days got shorter. Now they lay on occasion.

My question is, the 2 Silkies stayed in their coop for a long time several weeks ago , one came out and was acting normal 2 weeks before the other , but they are both back to normal now. Now the smallest one is doing what those girls were doing...she stays in her box in the coop all day , kind of all fluffed-up. If I take her out , she will eat,drink then go back in her box...

I know this is something I should know , so what is it! The larger NH Reds have never had this behavior before , just the bantams.

Thanks

 

[chicknjane]

You stated "she stays in her box in the coop all day , kind of all fluffed-up. If I take her out , she will eat,drink then go back in her box..."

It sounds like the behavior I've heard described for a broody hen. I'm sure someone with more experience will chime in soon. For the record, I'm guessing broody.

Marcy

 

[hennypennysmom]

yup - that's exactly what we are dealing with right now with one of our hens. we have put her in a dog run in the garage to help convince her that no amount of broodiness will hatch the non-fertile-we-got-no-rooster eggs she thinks she's sitting on!
kara

 

[bayside chick]

Thanks guys...the funny thing is , she`s not even sitting on any eggs!