I have some broody questions!

[ScotianChick]

I have a new broody, my SLW Arlene was broken of it but now Go-Go is doing it and she is a little monster!! I lock her out of the coop but the instant I open it back up, she is on the nest. She chases other chickens away from the coop, she makes noises like an evil little gremlin, she bites, she even tries to bite the cats if she is out for food, you get the picture!

1. How is she stealing eggs? I found her on the floor of the coop last night with two eggs. My girls consistently lay in the nesting boxes which are nearly a foot off the floor.
2. What is the best way to break her? I don't have a wire bottomed cage and don't want to do too much separation with my small flock.
3. After a chicken goes broody, does it take her a while to lay normal sized eggs again? Arlene's eggs are tiny!!
4. Why is she so evil?

 

[Judy]

1. They can hold them under their "chin" and carry them, if it is a place they can't roll them.
2. The best way is give her fertile eggs or slip a couple of newly hatched chicks under her at night. You can try taking her out of the nest repeatedly, esp. if you can do it several times a day. It's worked for a couple of mine and hasn't worked with others. One thing, though, at least you would be making sure she is getting some food, water and exercise. This is why I do it anyway -- I make them go outside, just prod them until they get "unfluffed" and stand up and scratch, eat, etc. Some people just let them sit until the chicken stops on her own.
3. No good answer for this -- they do what they do.
4. To protect her eggs/chicks, I suppose.

http://www.themodernhomestead.us/article/Broody-Hens-1.html

 

[ScotianChick]

She can't have any babies

I hatched some weeks ago and have no more room. I'd love to watch one with babies but there is simply not enough space!