Is my Aussie broody?

[wordgirl]

Well, yesterday night I went out to turn out the chooks' light and found one of the Australorp hens in the nestbox. When I disturbed her, she got up and went to the roost. Today I went out in the afternoon and found an Australorp (I'm guessing it's the same one, although it might not be) sitting in the box. I took some eggs out from under her and left her with one or two to keep until she was done. Then when I went out to turn off the light (at about ten thirty) and there was an Australorp, sitting in the nest box (everybody else was on the roost). ??? I picked her up and felt her abdomen (behind her legs), and I didn't feel any lumps (eggs), so does that mean eggbound-ness is hopefully out of the question? Yet she does not seem persistently broody, as she went to roost both last night and tonight. Wouldn't she try to go back if she was disturbed? I put her back near the nestboxes a couple times, but she didn't go back to the eggs.

Any opinions?

 

[Dust Bunny]

ive got a hen like that, in her case i think its cuz she is getting picked on, she has no owees but ive seen the other hens be quite rude to her, i have to put her out on nice days when they freerange so she doesnt miss out on the infrequent washington sunshine, anyway that could be a posibility in your case, i would just continue to observe her untill your sure she is ok

 

[wordgirl]

That could be the case, although she seems to be pretty settled in when I see her. It has been the same nextbox as well. I'm going out now to turn on the light – I'll tell you whether she's in there again.

Uh...February is too cold to hatch chicks in MN, right?

 

[wordgirl]

She's still there! I just put a black, wide twisty-tie on her leg so I'll be able recognize her.

I picked her up and she was missing feathers on her breast – broody?

 

[wordgirl]

She was still there went I went out to turn off the light. I took the eggs out from under her, but she stayed in there. She does not seem to mind my messing with her – shouldn't she be a little more irritated if she's truly brooding?

 

[yomama]

Although I am by no means an expert, I agree that it is a possibility she could be being picked on, if she is not in fact being broody. I have a hen that does the same thing. She is the lowest rank in the group. She did go through an officiall broody spell, that took me about a week to break. However, I have noticed that she still does not roost with the girls at night, she sleeps in the nest box. She will free range with them, but is definately not part of their "group"-poor girl. When she first became broody, it was gradual. Not sure if that is normal or not. At first it was part of the day, then it eventually became all the time, eggs or no eggs. She never got aggressive, but did make some noise and ruffled up her feathers when I tried to bother her when she was setting. I've read that that is a tell tale sign of broodiness. I guess I would just see how it progresses. I eventually had to lock my hen out of the coop during the day for about a week to break her broodiness. At first she freaked out, but then got used to it. I guess you could try denying your hen access to the nest site during the day and see how she reacts? Not sure if you want to be that extreme or not. I was a first time chicken mom, and was worried she wasn't eating, that's why I was so determined to break her broodiness. Hope this helps. Good luck!

 

[wordgirl]

I'm going to see if I can get her to set. Picking up new bedding today at the feed store – are wood chips okay? I'm not sure I can get straw in the car unless it's bagged. I'll probably move her tomorrow night or later in the week – I have to choose the eggs I want, too. The place I'm thinking of putting her is a giant plastic dog kennel beside the big coop – will she want a smaller nest inside that, or will she be happy to just sit in the back?

 

[yomama]

Woodchips are probably ok, depending on what they are made of. Cedar can cause respitory problems, though many people use it with no problems. I use pine shavings. They come compressed in plastic packaging. No sure if you can get those where you live, but they definately can fit in a trunk, or back seat. I have a car too. Is there a reason why you don't want to let her set in the nest box she has already chosen? Might make it easier for her to continue to set if you don't have to move her.

 

[wordgirl]

Quote:
Well, there are only two nextboxes in the coop at the moment (we haven't built the permanent ones yet) and I'm guessing she would be constantly being disturbed. Plus, would the flock – or the rooster – be maybe not so thrilled at the sudden appearance of the fluffy babies?

I'm feeling less sure, too, now, about her being broody. Both today and yesterday she has not been in the nest box all day. Maybe she is getting discouraged because I keep collecting the eggs and the hens want to share her box, or maybe she never was broody.

I started collecting eggs for hatching today and am really hoping she'll agree to sit on them. Do I have any chance of her getting serious?

 

[yomama]

I'm hoping someone will jump in here and add some advice. I am a first time chicken owner as of 4 months ago, myself, so the only advice I can give you is from my personal experience. I do know that from what I've researched and have read on here, that a chicken will become broody when she wants to be broody. I collected eggs everyday and mine continued being broody. However, it makes sense to me that if you leave some eggs under her, she may be more inclined to set? As for the others not wanting little ones running around the coop, I'm not sure how they would react. I have never hatched any babies, yet. Depending on how many hens you have in the coop, they may be fine using the other nest box for laying. I have 4 hens and 2 boxes. Most of the time, they all use the same one. I think I read that you can have one nest box per 1 to 4 hens, but I could be wrong. Good luck!