In need of some help

[Greg]

I have 2 hens with no rooster that I feed laying mash. they have both been laying fine until 2 days ago. One still lays fine, but the other has not layed in 2 days now, but is sitting on the other one's egg (both days now have caught her doing this). Is there something wrong, or is she just taking a break?

thanks in advance
Greg

 

[justusnak]

Sounds to me she is in the early stages of going broody!

 

[eggchel]

Sometimes they do just take a break, but they dont sit on the eggs in the nest while they are having a break, lol. If she is in there almost all the time then she is probably broody and trying to hatch the eggs. If so, she will might fluff up her feathers and may even growl or peck at you if you try to reach under her for the eggs. Or she just may refuse to get off them. She will frequently rearrange the eggs underneath her. Broody hens will usually get off the nest once or twice a day to eat, drink, and poo (really stinky large saved up kinda poo). If you want her to hatch some eggs, and you can get some fertile eggs from someone else, this would be the time to put them under her. However, the other hen will continue to lay in the nest (broodies stop laying) so you must mark the fertile eggs so that you can remove the fresh infertile egg everyday.

Another possiblilty, and not a good one, is that she may have become an internal layer, or be egg bound. This means that an egg is stuck inside her and she will get sick and die if she cannot pass the egg. If that is the case, she will more than likely exhibit signs of trying to lay an egg. Squatting, getting in and out of the nest repeatedly, seeming in distress. You may even be able to feel a mass in her lower abdomen. Sometimes a warm bath, some gentle abdominal massage, or some lubricant in her vent may help. Often the prognosis is not good.


chel

 

[Greg]

thanks for the info, appears that she is broody. she got really mean when I tried to move her to get the other egg out. She has always been the crazy one of the three total that I have. had to move the other one early on because this one was trying to kill the other one. since the day i got this one she has traveled back and forth in thier pen trying to get out.

is there anything I can do to keep my fingers in tact while getting the other's egg out everyday?

Greg

 

[justusnak]

A good pair of gloves....long sleeves...and a good wide board...to gently put under her and lift!
Good luck! And be safe...they are MEAN when broody.

 

[Greg]

she's still going.....

is this normal?

gw

 

[SpottedCrow]

Yep, she'll sit for at least three weeks unless you want to try to break her.

 

[Greg]

thanks, i was just wondering how long is to long. since she's been going 7 weeks now, I guess I'll just let her keep on keeping on.

gw

 

[eggchel]

If you want to get her off the nest, you can either try to break her broodiness, or give her some chicks to raise.
If you elect to give her chicks, just buy some day olds (or close to day old) at the feed store and put them under her at night.
If you choose to try to break her broodiness, one way is to put her in a wire bottom cage without a nest or any bedding, and keep her there for a week at least until she stops sitting. Keep the cage up off the ground so that air circulates under her.
Good luck.

chel