Good news/bad news!

[Henriettamom919]

Yesterday, in my intro I shared that my Buff Orp, Henrietta, was seemingly being bullied by my Alpha Plymouth rock, Carol. My other Rock, Karen, is pretty neutral but Henrietta was even puffing up, running from her, being defensive, etc.

So today, she wouldn't allow the others into the laying box. Karen ended up pushing her way past to a vacant box but Carol was persona non grata After Henrietta finished laying she came down, ate a bunch then went back up.

She's broody, right? She's been walking around puffed, clucking a bunch, being defensive around her "sisters" and as of today,collecting all the eggs into one spot and sitting on them.

She did eventually come out a few hours later and even allowed Carol to join her for a dust bath. Carol was even trying to help groom her but once they were done she went back to puffing, clucking, etc.

She's about nine months old but it fits the symptoms, right? Kind of practice brooding? We don't have a rooster so no worrying about that.

Do I just let it run its course? Will it help to collect the eggs as soon as they're laid?

Thank you so much for all your help and great advice!

 

[Crzy Chi Lady]

Yes I would collect the eggs. It will pass.

 

[sylviethecochin]

Many hens won't break just because you collect eggs. They'll happily set on empty nests.

I would either let her set and get her some chicks for when she finishes incubation (~3 weeks) or make a broody-breaker cage. That's a wire floor, no-bedding cage with good air circulation.

You don't want her going broody for long if she's not hatching chicks. She'll lose a lot of body fat. She won't lay eggs. If she stays broody for more than a few days, it can be months before she starts laying again, due to the hormones in her system.

 

[Henriettamom919]

Well, poop!

We just got four chicks about a week ago She never did go back, and has mellowed a little but I'll keep an eye on her! She did vocally show her disapproval when I set today's eggs in a flower bed to scrub and powder our coop (added some diatomaceous earth (sp?) She saw those eggs in the dirt and just gave me an earful But then she hopped down and went back to scratching.

Thank you so much for the advice!!!

Many hens won't break just because you collect eggs. They'll happily set on empty nests.

I would either let her set and get her some chicks for when she finishes incubation (~3 weeks) or make a broody-breaker cage. That's a wire floor, no-bedding cage with good air circulation.

You don't want her going broody for long if she's not hatching chicks. She'll lose a lot of body fat. She won't lay eggs. If she stays broody for more than a few days, it can be months before she starts laying again, due to the hormones in her system.

 

[Crzy Chi Lady]

I have to say I am experiencing this right now with the “I still want to sit syndrome.” In the past I didn’t have this problem. I got rid of the eggs and put them out to walk around. Granted it wasn’t exactly instant. Chickens can have different personalities. I have even read of people locking the chicken out of the coup to break the habit. I personally never tried that. I have tried giving them fertile eggs to sit on. This was a disaster. So when the mother ship lands, you might have to try different options.