- Apr 16, 2011
- 14
- 0
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Hello from Australia
I have a RIR and an Australorp - approximately 1 (and a bit) years old. They usually lay very well/regularly. They sleep in their coop at night, and are free range in our garden (which is a little "wild" in parts) every day from about 7am till dusk - weather permitting.
The RIR went broody at the beginning of December (our summer) and stayed that way till mid January. She finished with a little molt. Our weather this summer has been very mild/cool, with A LOT of rain - especially of late.
In the last 2-3 days, my Australorp (Gwen) has become extremely evasive. She has never been as approachable as the RIR (Gertrude actively likes a pat or cuddle), but she would still come and eat lettuce etc from your hands. In the last few days she has spent a lot of time mellowing out in various spots around the garden, and I can't lure her into their coop during the day, with any of her favourite treats. She does still wander around scratching up bugs etc. I used to be able to call her when I went into the yard, and she would come running from wherever she was, just to see what I had to eat. Now I literally have to search for her. She will go in to the coop on her own at dusk. She hasn't laid an egg for about 3 days.
Do you think she is going to become broody ? Could she be egg bound, or is she just being a little moody ?
I can't catch her to investigate the possibility of her being egg bound. Depending on what advice I receive here, I could possibly nab her on the way out of the coop in the morning. She certainly seems to be in good health otherwise.
I can live with anything except if she is egg bound - I'd hate for her to be ill or in pain
I don't want to whisk her to the vet if she's just being a little aloof.
All advice much appreciated
I have a RIR and an Australorp - approximately 1 (and a bit) years old. They usually lay very well/regularly. They sleep in their coop at night, and are free range in our garden (which is a little "wild" in parts) every day from about 7am till dusk - weather permitting.
The RIR went broody at the beginning of December (our summer) and stayed that way till mid January. She finished with a little molt. Our weather this summer has been very mild/cool, with A LOT of rain - especially of late.
In the last 2-3 days, my Australorp (Gwen) has become extremely evasive. She has never been as approachable as the RIR (Gertrude actively likes a pat or cuddle), but she would still come and eat lettuce etc from your hands. In the last few days she has spent a lot of time mellowing out in various spots around the garden, and I can't lure her into their coop during the day, with any of her favourite treats. She does still wander around scratching up bugs etc. I used to be able to call her when I went into the yard, and she would come running from wherever she was, just to see what I had to eat. Now I literally have to search for her. She will go in to the coop on her own at dusk. She hasn't laid an egg for about 3 days.
Do you think she is going to become broody ? Could she be egg bound, or is she just being a little moody ?
I can't catch her to investigate the possibility of her being egg bound. Depending on what advice I receive here, I could possibly nab her on the way out of the coop in the morning. She certainly seems to be in good health otherwise.
I can live with anything except if she is egg bound - I'd hate for her to be ill or in pain
I don't want to whisk her to the vet if she's just being a little aloof.
All advice much appreciated
