HEN HELP PLEASE

[HennyPennyChickenTown]

Hello! We have had the same 6 hens for 2 1/2 years. Haven't had any problems in all that time.

About two weeks ago, we noticed one hen acting a little different - sleeping in weird spots, etc. Then about a week ago, she seemed to never, ever leave the nest box (there are 2 nest box so eggs were getting laid in the other one). Not coming out for food scraps or anything. We starting thinking maybe she is sick/dying.

Today I shooed her out to clean in the coop, and a couple of the other chickens totally attacked her as she cowered in a corner of their fenced in area - violently pecking her head. She looks to be in bad shape, skinny, pale comb, etc. Not sure if she is sick, or getting pecked to death (and kept away from the food/water/etc)

Should we just try separating her or ending her misery or what? We had an excellent run of good health and good relations so not experienced in what to do here? Any advice?!?!?

THANKS IN ADVANCE!

 

[Poultrybreeder]

She is not sick, she has gone broody, which means that she is trying to hatch chicks. You can break her of that, or if you like, you can get some fertile eggs to give her to try to hatch.

 

[HennyPennyChickenTown]

Interesting, I haven't heard of that before! Does that make the other chickens attack her like that as well? She doesn't look well either? How would you break her of it, we don't care to hatch any chicks.

 

[Poultrybreeder]

One way to break her is to remove all of the eggs, and every time a new egg appears, remove it before she can cover it. Another way is to take her away from the rest of the flock for a week, when you put her back in there, she will not return to the nest for a while. And broody hens generally do not look well, the look sick and weak during this period. Sometimes others will attack broody hens, because they think there is something wrong with her, not that she is broody

 

[HennyPennyChickenTown]

Ok, we did separate her out just now to see what happens. Hopefully that is all it is, broody hen - she wasn't protective of the nest (and hasn't been sitting on any eggs) but I'm hoping a few days away will fix it. I guess we'll try to return her in a week and see how it goes. Thanks!