I just want to scream!!

[gritsar]

My LF brahma hens play at going broody all the time. One time it will be that they won't leave the nests all day, but will get off of them in time to roost at night. The next time it will be that they all fight me when I go to collect eggs. Their latest trick is that all the dark hens are lining the nests with their feathers and are walking around with naked chests and bellies.
Now one dark hen is back to nest sitting; been at it since 10 this morning.

It's like they have all the pieces of the broody puzzle, but aren't sure how to put them together!
I'm thinking that they dislike their open air nestboxes and I'm going to change them out for enclosed nests this coming week.
In the meantime, I'm willing to bet that this hen is off the nest by roost time tonight.
I just want to scream!

 

[shuizar209]

Looks to me like they are playing a game that either you dont know the rules or they are just very good at it lol... hope you have some luck soon!!! you do want them to go broody dont you???

 

[gritsar]

Quote:
Oh, I would dearly love a broody. Just went out and checked and that hen is now off the nest and Lil'Bit has taken her place. My sweet darling half-blind Lil'Bit sure can bite hard.

 

[DarkUnicorn]

Give it a few more days..... What you described is exactly how my broodies acted right before sitting.

I waited till I saw them on the nest at night, then they got "their" eggs...

Maybe entice them with an egg or two left in the nest and see what happens.....

 

[gritsar]

Quote:
That's what I did. I gathered all the eggs from all the boxes and stuck them under Lil' Bit. It's not horribly hot right now, so I figure I'll just gather up all the eggs later, when LB goes to roost. I know she'll go to roost cuz the broody gods hate me.
'Course it would be my luck that I finally get a broody and it's my smallest hen that's half blind. Great mother she'd make.

 

[Brindlebtch]

Sounds like all your animals a getting together and plotting against you to wear you out.

Th 40lb lap dog, the playing at broody Brahmas, the cat that is going to turn you in to the SPCA (she is you know). If I were you I would be on the lookout because I think your critters are gettting ready for a mutiny.

They get you tired enough and when you fall asleep in the chair with that 40lb lap dog holding you down and BINGO you wake up bound to the chair with duct tape while they clean you out and then they squander it all in Vegas a the crap tables.

 

[aveca]

The old timers can teach you a lot.

To break a broody hen sometimes just removing the hen from the broody spot a ways a cross the farm is enough to break her, may need to be done a couple times.

A bad broody hen is removed to a wire? bottom cage so she cannot get comfy away from her brooding spot and released later on . Cant remember what kind of a pen they put them in, it might just be a space away from her regular brood spot. for enough time to break her, it could be a stall or anything I would imagine

One of my favorite tid-bits I learned from the old timers was this, My neighbor asked me, How are you getting those black chickens so shiney? He has Rhode Islands well penned in a dry lot feeding commercial feed. I said well .....its some sunflower seeds, sunshine, commercial feed, corn, and Doctor green.
That drove him nuts for a year, he asked everybody in the neighborgood what is Dr green? I said dont tell him its a secret.. He even asked the feed store whats dr green? they didnt know, never heard of it

One day my husband let the cat out of the bag when they were talking......... by accident, He said I have to get up home and let the hens out to get thier dr green, neighbor said just what is dr green? He said green Grass and clover .

 

[gritsar]

Quote:
I wouldn't doubt that you are right. My theory is my DH is paying them all off to keep me busy and out of trouble while he works.
Anyway, all the hens are back on the roosts tonight; just like I thought they'd be.