Help I think I have a brooder

[Angela1026]

So Im pretty new to this chicken thing only about 3 years in. I had an incident with a local dog chasing my chickens. After the incident one of my five chicks would always stay in the coup and i dont believe she has laid an egg since. Then I noticed she was collecting the eggs and sitting on them. I read up on it because it has been going on for too long (about 3 months). I'm pretty sure she is brooding. I have tried moving her to the perch at night and putting the frozen veggies under her. It has only been 2 days of trying to correct the brooding so I'm not surprised to have not seen a change in her yet. My problem now is in the past two days the other 4 chicks have stopped laying. Nothing has changed with them and they don't appear to be molting. Any thought on why they would stop laying.

 

[Abriana]

The first hen was probably in shock and stopped laying. Then she turned broody. I would let her hatch them, it is a very fun educational experience. I am not sure why the others stopped laying. They could possibly be taking a break. I am sure some egg experts will chime in about it. Hope everything turns out okay

 

[Angela1026]

The first hen was probably in shock and stopped laying. Then she turned broody. I would let her hatch them, it is a very fun educational experience. I am not sure why the others stopped laying. They could possibly be taking a break. I am sure some egg experts will chime in about it. Hope everything turns out okay

i only have hens

 

[Abriana]

Thats a problem! You could either buy fertilized eggs, or break her broodiness. To break broodiness, stick her in a wire cage raised up on legs so that she feels the drafts below her. Giver her food and water but no bedding. You can give her a roosting bar too, if you want, so she doesn't have to sleep on the probably uncomfortable wire flooring. Keep her in the cage about three days, or until she lays an egg.
If you don't want to BUY fertilized eggs, if you have friends with a rooster, they might be more than happy to give you three-four eggs for your hen. Make sure to get at least three eggs, just in case one dies or doesn't hatch, the other one won't be lonely.

 

[Top Rooster]

Hens will go broody after a traumatic death in the flock, let's say a fox came and killed half your flock one of your remaining hens will most likely go broody to replace the dead chickens it's just them contributing to the flock and keeping it growing.

 

[Abriana]

Thats really interesting, I never knew that! It would make sense though. Gee, chickens are smart!

 

[aart]

Welcome to BYC!

the other 4 chicks have stopped laying

How old are the other 'chicks'?
What is your location?

Might be better to use a wire crate for breaking broody. Could take some long time if she's been broody for 3 months.

Gee, chickens are smart!

Pure instinct.

 

[Angela1026]

Welcome to BYC!

How old are the other 'chicks'?
What is your location?

Might be better to use a wire crate for breaking broody. Could take some long time if she's been broody for 3 months.

I live in upstate NY I got them all as chicks at the same time. They are a little over 2yrs old. They have never done this before. I had chickens prior to this but a fox got them all one night. Theses are road island reds. For the most part I have had 5 eggs everyday until the dog incident(in May), then it was 4 eggs most days. with the one chick mostly staying in the coup. I have a chicken tractor but if I'm able to be home I let them roam the yard( usually 3-4 days a week) the broody hen doesn't usually come out. I have not had any eggs for four days now.

 

[Angela1026]

I live in upstate NY I got them all as chicks at the same time. They are a little over 2yrs old. They have never done this before. I had chickens prior to this but a fox got them all one night. Theses are road island reds. For the most part I have had 5 eggs everyday until the dog incident(in May), then it was 4 eggs most days. with the one chick mostly staying in the coup. I have a chicken tractor but if I'm able to be home I let them roam the yard( usually 3-4 days a week) the broody hen doesn't usually come out. I have not had any eggs for four days now

 

[aart]

Determining if she's actually broody, or ill, or hiding from bullying is the first step.
Have you tried pulling her out of the nest during the day...what does she do??

At 2 years old they may be slowing or stopped laying to molt.