Is she being broody?

[MillersFarm]

Yay a neighbor! Where are you? We are in Clarence Center.

Lewiston Ny, I little less than an hour away from Clarence. Happy to meet ya'

 

[leighks]

Lewiston Ny, I little less than an hour away from Clarence. Happy to meet ya'

We are pretty far north, just a half mile or so from Niagara County, so not far at all- nice to meet you too!

 

[leighks]

Today’s update:
Willow was fine all day, I didn’t see her go in the nest box at all. She didn’t lay today, which isn’t abnormal. She went to roost at night like she’s supposed to.

So either she had a 1 day broodiness, or she was cozy in the next box, or she just wanted some alone time haha. Chickens can sure be strange! Hopefully problem solved. Thanks everyone!!

 

[aart]

It's very unlikely for a 9 month old pullet to go broody this time of the year,

Tell that to the 2 pullets that went broody in my coop this fall
They did break easy, didn't have to use the crate, but took the first a few weeks to get back to laying, the other still isn't laying after almost a month. SMH.

 

[MillersFarm]

Tell that to the 2 pullets that went broody in my coop this fall
They did break easy, didn't have to use the crate, but took the first a few weeks to get back to laying, the other still isn't laying after almost a month. SMH.

Yikes! I have a feeling i'm going to be dealing with broodies all year.. Just traded some of my standard chickens for more seramas and bantams and already had to deal with a couple.. Good luck with your broodies.

 

[MillersFarm]

Today’s update:
Willow was fine all day, I didn’t see her go in the nest box at all. She didn’t lay today, which isn’t abnormal. She went to roost at night like she’s supposed to.

So either she had a 1 day broodiness, or she was cozy in the next box, or she just wanted some alone time haha. Chickens can sure be strange! Hopefully problem solved. Thanks everyone!!

It might of just been her thinking that the nesting boxes were much more cozy than the roosts.. Is she picked on frequently? Does she get kicked off the roost by other birds?

 

[leighks]

It might of just been her thinking that the nesting boxes were much more cozy than the roosts.. Is she picked on frequently? Does she get kicked off the roost by other birds?

She is the low girl in the pecking order, so while she doesn’t get terrorized she does get picked on with chases and pecks. Even though I only have 6 chickens, I have 4 feed stations set up to make sure everyone can get to the food. There is only 1 waterer but it has access 360 degrees around. I also have 2 roosting areas- but everyone likes the one in front of the window.

Evening roosting is quite a spectacle. Several hens, including Willow (the one this post was written about) get on and pecked off a few times before everyone settles in. I know this could be part of the problem too. Everyone is the same age but different breeds, and have been together since being a few days old.

There is plenty of room in the coop, it’s about 12’x12’ and the run is a bit bigger then that. Free range time is supervised or in a tractor with all the foxes and coyotes, but no one has really wanted to go out since the snow came about 2 weeks ago.

 

[aart]

Evening roosting is quite a spectacle.

RoostTimeRumble....happens in every coop every night....can be crazy.

There is plenty of room in the coop, it’s about 12’x12’

Pics of coop and run, inside and out, please?
Your 'My Coop' link is not working.

 

[leighks]

Coop, run, tractor

Run- has a branch and ladder for roosting

Nest boxes- 4 for 5 hens

Alternative roosting place in back of coop- used for afternoon naps

food/ water area, also some leftover gourds

Nighttime roost with 2 levels, but everyone goes on top because the window is in front of it

hanging out

 

[aart]

Sweet big space!
That looks like a puppy pen?
Do they peck at the bubble wrap?