Hi folks
I need some advice. My blue wheaten Ameraucana finally integrated with my flock of 4- long story- QT, lowest on pecking order , picked on etc etc.
Well just as she has settled into a somewhat peaceful co-existence with the rest of the birds, she turns around and goes broody on me! It has been about 5-6 days now- I started off getting her out of the nestbox constantly, tried a cold bath the day before and twice today (it was hot but she still gave me a stinkeye or two), and I am keeping her and the rest of the flock in a tractor so that she will not have access to the nestbox. I have been sealing off the nestbox as soon as all the others have laid, and Ms broody would end up in front of the nestbox or on the perch closest to the nestbox. Still trying to nest this afternoon, so it was a cold bath and back to the tractor with the flock again. The plan is to try keeping her in a dog crate tonight so she is away from the main coop and hopefully she will give up. My main concern is that she is not eating and drinking as much as usual as she has been in the nestbox/trying to to get into the nestbox.
(no, setting eggs would not be an option- no room in coop, even though it is so tempting...)
When can I reasonably see her getting back to normal? I talked to a few people I know who have chickens, and they just leave their broody hens alone for 3-4 weeks until they get over it.
Any advice would be appreciated!
I need some advice. My blue wheaten Ameraucana finally integrated with my flock of 4- long story- QT, lowest on pecking order , picked on etc etc.
Well just as she has settled into a somewhat peaceful co-existence with the rest of the birds, she turns around and goes broody on me! It has been about 5-6 days now- I started off getting her out of the nestbox constantly, tried a cold bath the day before and twice today (it was hot but she still gave me a stinkeye or two), and I am keeping her and the rest of the flock in a tractor so that she will not have access to the nestbox. I have been sealing off the nestbox as soon as all the others have laid, and Ms broody would end up in front of the nestbox or on the perch closest to the nestbox. Still trying to nest this afternoon, so it was a cold bath and back to the tractor with the flock again. The plan is to try keeping her in a dog crate tonight so she is away from the main coop and hopefully she will give up. My main concern is that she is not eating and drinking as much as usual as she has been in the nestbox/trying to to get into the nestbox.
(no, setting eggs would not be an option- no room in coop, even though it is so tempting...)
When can I reasonably see her getting back to normal? I talked to a few people I know who have chickens, and they just leave their broody hens alone for 3-4 weeks until they get over it.
Any advice would be appreciated!
