Immaginary Eggs

[Bjorngullf]

Hello everyone,

New member here coming from continental Europe and looking for some advice.
On my ranch I have one Marans and one Bresse flock as well as some Ducks and Geese.
Unfortunately, I have a problem with one on my oldest chickens/hens in the Marans flock. This hen is "experienced and good mother" with second generation of chicks under her wings but recently something strange happened.
This hen is sitting on her imaginary eggs for almost 3-4 weeks. By imaginary eggs, I mean she didn't lay any eggs, she is there sitting on her place pretending she is incubating them and acting very protective. I thought the hen might be sick, or having some issues with the laying but this is not the case. Is she just old and will die soon? I really don't know what is going on here and what can I do - advice and useful comments appreciated.

Thanks !

 

[sourland]

Welcome to BYC. I have had older non laying hens go broody and raise chicks. In many birds the imprinting is more to the nest site than to eggs.

 

[Hei 20]

Maybe she misses being a new mom again, put a few eggs under her to lift her spirits.

 

[Bjorngullf]

Hi, that's interesting.
For me this is the first time I am observing hen's strange behavior.
After reading your post I am seriously thinking to try one of those guidelines i.e. 5 Simple Tips to “Break” a Broody Hen - not sure yet.

 

[Pullet Press]

Sorry for intruding, but do you actually have Bresse chickens?

 

[Bjorngullf]

Maybe she misses being a new mom again, put a few eggs under her to lift her spirits.

This could be an option if the weather will be nice - but it is getting colder and I am afraid chicks won't survive the winter.

 

[CHlCKEN]

You could just use those “Break a Broody” tips and see how that goes.

Welcome to BYC!

 

[MrFluffyandGirls]

Sounds like she's brooding and for her health you should break her.

https://www.thehappychickencoop.com/6-ways-to-break-a-broody-hen/

 

[aart]

This hen is "experienced and good mother" with second generation of chicks under her wings but recently something strange happened.

Does she have "chicks under her wings" now?

This hen is sitting on her imaginary eggs for almost 3-4 weeks. By imaginary eggs, I mean she didn't lay any eggs, she is there sitting on her place pretending she is incubating them and acting very protective.

If she's broody and.....
you don't want her to hatch out chicks, IMO it's best to break her broodiness promptly.

My experience goes about like this: After her setting for 3 days and nights in the nest (or as soon as I know they are broody), I put her in a wire dog crate (24"L x 18"W x 21"H) with smaller wire on the bottom but no bedding, set up on a couple of 4x4's right in the coop or run with feed and water.

I used to let them out a couple times a day, but now just once a day in the evening(you don't have to) and she would go out into the run, drop a huge turd, race around running, take a vigorous dust bath then head back to the nest... at which point I put her back in the crate. Each time her outings would lengthen a bit, eating, drinking and scratching more and on the 3rd afternoon she stayed out of the nest and went to roost that evening...event over, back to normal tho she didn't lay for another week or two. Or take her out of crate daily very near roosting time(30-60 mins) if she goes to roost great, if she goes to nest put her back in crate.

Tho not necessary a chunk of 2x4 for a 'roost' was added to crate floor after pic was taken.