I may have a broody hen...

[Jolyn]

Well she has been sitting in the nest box all day today too. I have checked her all over. She can walk and she's looking good. Soooooooo i think she is broody. When i moved her earlier i stuck a wooden egg next to her and she popped it under her.

I just went out and put her in the coop in a dog kennel. Nothing on the floor...just the plastic floor. I will have water and food in it for her and i'll keep her in it for three days. Does this sound like a good plan? Of course i will clean it out daily and etc.....

Oh and this is Rose my Barred Rock.

 

[HorseFeathers]

Quote:
Definitely broody.

So my question is....if she is broody will this turn my other hens off laying? I was reading about it and someone said that if one goes broody all may follow??

Not in my experience...

How long does this usually last? Does it happen only during certain times of the year or is it at a specific age?

It happens everywhere, all the time, whenever it strikes her fancy. Esp. Silkies! It usually lasts the incubation period or shorter, but it can go longer if she's stubborn and that could lead to harm.

Hope this helps
-Enviro​

 

[Mrs MIA]

Quote:
Yep, she's broody. You might want to put down some newspapers, just to make it easier to clean on yourself, but then, broodies only poop once or twice a day. Just keep her in there until you see that she's not just sitting there all day. They'll get restless and stand up when they stop being broody.

Good luck!

 

[chickorama]

Broody all right!! My GLW won't get out of the nesting box and she is all fluffed up. I think they fluff up so they can fit more eggs under them, but I am not exactly sure.

 

[Jolyn]

I feel bad for her...we don't even have a rooster so there is no hope of her being a mommy.

Ok i will make sure i get some newspaper in there to help with the cleanup. Good idea. I should have thought of that but nope.

 

[cajunlizz]

Quote:
why 3 days ? This hen is broody . Separate her into her own private quarters with her NEST AND EGGS . 21 days and you will have bbay chicks

 

[Jolyn]

Quote:
why 3 days ? This hen is broody . Separate her into her own private quarters with her NEST AND EGGS . 21 days and you will have bbay chicks

Even if i don't have a rooster?? Seriously though i don't have a rooster so my guess is i'd just have a bunch of rotten eggs.

 

[Mrs MIA]

No, if the eggs aren't fertile, there's no point in leaving her with eggs... silly.

Just remove the hen to the kennel without the nest. It may take longer than 3 days, but that's about how long it takes my silkies to break.

 

[cajunlizz]

Quote:
why 3 days ? This hen is broody . Separate her into her own private quarters with her NEST AND EGGS . 21 days and you will have bbay chicks

Even if i don't have a rooster?? Seriously though i don't have a rooster so my guess is i'd just have a bunch of rotten eggs.

Ohhhhhh ohhhhhh .... OK ... YES rotten eggs .... WELL maybe put her 3 - 6 golf balls and let her sit on them until she breaks her cycle .... OR find you some fertilized eggs . She wants to be a mommy

 

[Jolyn]

Well i'm hoping she is over it. I have had her in a dog crate for three full days. Everytime i went out to clean it she would head right for the nest box. This morning i didn't get to clean it out....I know that's bad....but tonight when i let her out she didn't go straight to the box. I was out there a good 25 minutes and she was walking around and even got up on the roost. I am going to go out in a bit and see if she is still up on the roost.

Thanks for all your advise. I really appreciate it!