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Is my broody hen keeping the others from laying?

Discussion in 'Chicken Behaviors and Egglaying' started by PrincessChicky, Oct 27, 2012.

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  1. Oct 27, 2012 #1
    PrincessChicky

    PrincessChicky Chillin' With My Peeps

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    Mar 24, 2012
    Dallas area
    The title says it all. Since my one hen went broody, my other hens aren't laying.

    Obviously, she won't get out of the nesting box. We happen to only have one nesting box. Will the other hens lay someplace else or are they holding them?

    Anyone have any words of advice? I only have 3 chickens and we've gone from 3 eggs a day to now, maybe, one.
     
  3. Oct 27, 2012 #2
    TriangleMaster9

    TriangleMaster9 Chillin' With My Peeps

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    Jul 20, 2012
    Western Washington
    Usually when a chickens gotta lay, she gunna lay. Are you sure your broody might be taking the other eggs? Some times broodys will take other chickens eggs and sit on them! You should check how many eggs shes sitting on. I've heard of chickens sitting on as many as 15 eggs at once!
     
  5. Oct 27, 2012 #3
    Chicken Steve

    Chicken Steve Out Of The Brooder

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    Sep 10, 2012
    One of my girls laid for a good ten days giving us the only eggs of seven hens. So I took them one a day. Now she just sits in the box. I've got several others now on the bandwagon of laying. But this girl still sits waiting, waiting for what I'm not sure but there's no more eggs either. Any advise on her sitting is welcome.
     
  7. Oct 27, 2012 #4
    aprilboy

    aprilboy New Egg

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    Jan 27, 2012
    You need to supply a separate nest for her with 3-4 golf balls or ping pong balls. The others will return to their
    nest for laying. Be sure to pick up each egg as it is laid, if possible, to prevent her from returning to the laying
    nest and/or someone from eating it.
     
  9. Oct 27, 2012 #5
    TurtlePowerTrav

    TurtlePowerTrav T.K.'s Farm

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    Jul 29, 2012
    Oregon City, OR
    My Coop
    x2. A covered cat litter box works good for broodies.
     
  11. Oct 27, 2012 #6
    PrincessChicky

    PrincessChicky Chillin' With My Peeps

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    Mar 24, 2012
    Dallas area
    Ha! I took your advice and made another nesting box within the coop and wouldn't you know it, as soon as it was done, one of the chickens flew into the coop (knocking me aside) and went and sat down in there. 45 min. later and we've got an egg! I guess they just needed that other nest and maybe they didn't want to be messing with Miss. Hissy-pants in the nesting box. Oh, I found a broken egg under my bushes so I know that they've been looking elsewhere to lay so I hope I solved the problem with these ladies. Thanks ya'll!
     
  13. Oct 28, 2012 #7
    TriangleMaster9

    TriangleMaster9 Chillin' With My Peeps

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    Jul 20, 2012
    Western Washington
    Get them somewhat fast, I've heard of some Brody's even taking eggs from other boxes and sitting on them! Chickens are so crazy!
     
  15. Oct 28, 2012 #8
    aprilboy

    aprilboy New Egg

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    Jan 27, 2012
    I'm so glad the suggestion was helpful! I've had broodies get mean, so I knew how concerned you were.
    Glad you looked around, because my ladies did the same thing before I gave them the extra nest. Enjoy!
     
  17. Oct 28, 2012 #9
    PrincessChicky

    PrincessChicky Chillin' With My Peeps

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    Mar 24, 2012
    Dallas area
    We didn't get eggs out of anyone today. That broody babe is throwing a wrench in our egg production. Arg. Maybe this cold snap is helping with the phenomena, but I blame the hen mostly!

    She hardly comes out of the nesting box on her own so I go out there and remove her a few times a day and she hisses at me, fluffs up and then refuses to move. A little prodding with my foot and she'll run off to join her girlfriends. She's fussy! If we could have any more chickens where I live, I'd put some fertile eggs under her, but we can't so she's just wasting her time sitting on nothing out there. I feel kinda sad for her.
     
  19. Nov 1, 2012 #10
    Chicken Steve

    Chicken Steve Out Of The Brooder

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    Sep 10, 2012
    The broody, I'm sure I have one now. She won't get off the nest, I had put some glass eggs out to help them get started. and it worked. The first one to lay eggs an even dozen and now the eggs have stopped. And all she does is sit on a glass egg all day, I see her out and off the nest once in a while but not for long. Its been a month now, I catch others sharing her nest with her. They produce then leave the nest. Others in other nests but not this girl she has her nest and stays in it. I guess my issue is, is there a way to get this girl back into production of making eggs. We live in town and can't have a rooster for her. So I'm needing some information so I can make the right choice.
     
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