hen thinks golf balls are eggs!! what to do?

[eventmerlin]

I have a english bantum that thinks golf balls are her eggs. I put them in a nest to try to get my free rangers to lay inside instead of outside. Eloise, the bantie, now has been sitting on the golf balls for over a month. If i take them away she chases me, all upset and i feel horrible and give her them back. She is no longer laying her own eggs now and is clucking all the other girls out of the coop, away from her" eggs". Is this healthy for her? She will be sitting forever!

 

[emys]

Well, since it's been a month already I would just leave her. She should just give it up on her own soon. When it first starts, you can "break" a broody hen by putting her in an isolation cage with no bedding for about 3 days.

 

[MuranoFarms]

Do you happen to have any chicks hatching? Sneak them under her at night and take those golf balls away. She'll be so happy they finally hatched! lol

 

[gryeyes]

Quote:
Really, you should do this. It's not good for a hen to stay in protracted broodiness. They don't eat well, they lose weight... If you can't find chicks for her, try to find some fertilized eggs .... although that will extend her broody period another 3 weeks. Poor little thing.

 

[flakey chick]

or go to the feed store and get some day-olds (not too old).

 

[MakNugget]

At least you still have your golf balls. Mine think it's fun to roll it out of the nest box (not easy to do) and hide it under 10" of bedding.

 

[j egger]

I didn't use golf balls, I used plastic easter eggs but they got smart knowing they were fake.