Hen won't come out of box

[tmpar]

I have a buff orpington that has been in her box for a few weeks now. She never comes out. I put her out in the morning and she goes and gets a drink and scratches around and clucks constantly and sometimes dashes like a hornet away from the other hens. they are all a year old. She does not stay out long either and goes back to the box. She does not lay eggs or sit on them there are eggs in the other boxes and she chooses a box with no eggs to sit in. Any suggestions? She has no signs of pain or illness and poops normally when I put her out.

 

[Pyxis]

It sounds like she's broody. I bet if you put eggs in her box she'd sit on them. The reluctance to stay out for long, the way she poops when you take her off the nest, and the way that she eats and drinks really quick when she's out and then goes back are classic signs of a broody.

 

[animallover505]

Yeah, she's broody. She wants baby chicks!

 

[tmpar]

Awww... and I don't have a rooster and am not getting one. I put a couple eggs under her tonight. Will it matter if I switch them out so they don't get smelly?

 

[animallover505]

You could always buy some hatching eggs, then get rid of the roosters. Or buy some day-old chicks and put them under at night.

 

[Pyxis]

Day old chicks are a good idea, especially if you get sex links - that way you'll get girls for sure.

 

[tmpar]

Do I have to separate the hen and new chicks from the other hens or will they be ok.

 

[Pyxis]

That's up to you. My broodies (and broodies in general) are fierce protectors, and I've never had a problem having the chicks in the flock with the rest of the birds. Other birds don't like to mess with a broody or her chicks because she'll beat the tar out of them. My silkie has even attacked my great dane mix before for getting too close. But I'm sure there have been times when another hen has attacked and killed a broody's chicks before. Really, it's up to you, and it's a decision you should make based on the personalities of your birds.

 

[tmpar]

That's up to you. My broodies (and broodies in general) are fierce protectors, and I've never had a problem having the chicks in the flock with the rest of the birds. Other birds don't like to mess with a broody or her chicks because she'll beat the tar out of them. My silkie has even attacked my great dane mix before for getting too close. But I'm sure there have been times when another hen has attacked and killed a broody's chicks before. Really, it's up to you, and it's a decision you should make based on the personalities of your birds.

 

[tmpar]

Thanks so much everyone. I am going to get a couple hatching eggs today and try it out