Hens indoors

[shellfish]

Hey,


I thought my two hens were egg bound as they seem to be having trouble and have not laid an egg for 3 months now. I checked this out but didn't find an egg.

They are spending most of the time in their coop - hardly ever venturing outside.

Can anyone kindly advise me on what may be wrong with them.

Thanks

Shell

 

[ksct]

are they just broody? we had one. very friendly. let us pet her etc while she was sitting in an eggless box.... we just picked her up and put her down a few times, and then she was broken of it.
Otherwise, i'm not sure. hope someone else can help.

 

[shellfish]

Hey,

Both our girls are really friendly. So, just to clarify.... did you fix your broody hens by giving them extra cuddles?

Thanks

Shell

 

[NeeleysAVLChicks]

Can you give us any more info about their "condition"? Are they otherwise healthy other than not coming out of the coop?

When they are in the coop do they stay on their nests the whole time and seem to zone out? Have they seemed extra protective over their eggs? Picked out the feathers on their bellies?

You might have broodies if these fit your hen's behavior description. If so, I haven't heard about extra cuddling breaking their broodiness, but that would be awful nice if it worked!

If you search for how to break broodiness, you'll find tons of good info on here of different strategies, though my favorite is giving those hardworking girls some fertile eggs or slip in some day old chicks at night and let those hopeful mamas become real mamas!

 

[ksct]

I think we got lucky with our broody. And (knock on wood) we've only had one....
We had to pick her up and remove her from the nest box. we just put her on the floor. She went back in on the nest a few times and we just continued to remove her. After a few times. She got the hint.

I have heard of some having to put them in a seperate cage with food and water just for her and to let her stay broody until.... well until she stopped I guess.
Hopefully I never have to do that, so I can't really say for sure that my technique will work. Our friend with chickens has had to do that with his girls.

Hope that helps.

 

[shellfish]

Hey NeeleysAVLChicks,

Both the hens look pretty healthy...although their poo is rather wet and yellow looking.

One of them has a slight bare path near her vent which I have noticed before but both have plenty of feathers on their tummys. They have both gone off their 'corn treat' preferring some fruit or veg instead. If we are at work we keep them in the run but they stay all day in the coop - not always the nest box...anywhere in the coop. When we are not at work, we let them roam around the large garden. Normal they would explore but instead they seem to sometimes go back to the coop but often sit by the backdoor together all fluffed up and grumpy looking....the only time they cheer up is when we go give them some fruit, veg or bit of bread.

It's actually making me feel down cause they look so sad.......does ll that sound like they are broody. I actually started to wonder if I've made them broody as I'm nearly 8 months pregnant :0) Not sure they are that in tune! Should I buy fertile eggs for them to sit on and is there another way?

Thanks

Shell

 

[ranchhand]

How old are they?

What are you feeding them?
I saw no mention of layer feed.

Have you checked them for mites?

 

[chicmom]

Hey Shell-

Broodiness is kind of a hormonal thing--an instinct to want to hatch eggs....and it can go on for months......I would just keep picking them up and putting them outside. Maybe you can close the coop for the day so they don't wander back into the nest boxes. Another thing you can do is put them into a cage with food and water only....no bedding, and this will break their broodiness in about three days, sometimes it takes longer for a particularly stubborn broody.

They do stop laying when they become broody.

Good luck!
Sharon

 

[shellfish]

Hey ranchhand,

We also feed them daily with layers mash, layers pellets and oyster shell mix. We've checked for mites and treats them just in case.

chicmom - will try your method and see how we get on......oh um......my husband has aways wanted some fluffy chicks so we may go down that road :0)