Is she really broody?

[a1n1g1u1s]

I have an Easter Egger and two other hens, they are 3 years old. My EE has not laid an egg for about 4 weeks now. I have a little dlink camera in the coop. What I’ve notice is she goes in everyday as if to lay, but no egg. She lays greenish eggs the other two lay brown. There are two nest. With one of the hens she always get up and leaves. Then she’ll come back and lay on her egg. With the other hen she will actually get into the same nest and stand over her till the other gets out of her way and then she’ll sit on that egg. I collect right away. After a couple hours she leave the nest and goes and hangs out with the two other hens. I’ve done two cold soaks in a bucket now but she’s still at it. Will she eventually stop being Broody if I do nothing. Can I just wait this out. Is she really even broody? Could she be on a long break now? Or is this it, no more eggs.

 

[rosemarythyme]

If she's only staying on the nest for a few hours then she's probably not broody, though that sort of lounging could means she's on the edge or it and thinking about it, or maybe she's only half committed.

 

[chickens really]

Wet bucket treatments only wet the bird and don't work to break a Broody Hen.....An elevated crate with a wire bottom for a few days works..

 

[aart]

Yeah, doesn't sound broody.
I only call 'broody' after they've been on the nest for most the day and all night for 2-3 days running.
Probably best to quit dunking her.

Dunking can work to break a broody, but wire crate is the most efficient option.
Tho if it's really hot out wetting the birds belly before putting into crate can help.

 

[a1n1g1u1s]

Thanks, I’m curious tho, “if” she is boody will it eventually run its course and end. Can I wait it out, which I’m fine to do. Or do I need to do the cage jail, which I can do to. It’s really hot this week in California, so I was thinking I would set a space in my house for the cage jail. I lost a hen last year in the heat so I’m nervous when it’s hot and want to make sure she stays cool. They are free to roam the back yard during the day.

 

[aart]

Thanks, I’m curious tho, “if” she is boody will it eventually run its course and end. Can I wait it out, which I’m fine to do. Or do I need to do the cage jail, which I can do to. It’s really hot this week in California, so I was thinking I would set a space in my house for the cage jail. I lost a hen last year in the heat so I’m nervous when it’s hot and want to make sure she stays cool. They are free to roam the back yard during the day.

I give a dose of Sav-A Chick electrolytes to the whole flock every 3-4 days when it's really hot...started this when I almost lost a hen to the heat a couple years ago, the S-A-C saved her.


I think it's better to use the crate and break them as soon as you are sure she's broody.
Best to keep crate in with flock, letting her out once a day at roost time, so re-integration isn't an issue.

My experience went like this: After her setting for 3 days and nights in the nest, I put her in a wire dog crate with smaller wire on the bottom but no bedding, set up on a couple of 4x4's right in the coop 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.

 

[a1n1g1u1s]

I give a dose of Sav-A Chick electrolytes to the whole flock every 3-4 days when it's really hot...started this when I almost lost a hen to the heat a couple years ago, the S-A-C saved her.


I think it's better to use the crate and break them as soon as you are sure she's broody.
Best to keep crate in with flock, letting her out once a day at roost time, so re-integration isn't an issue.

My experience went like this: After her setting for 3 days and nights in the nest, I put her in a wire dog crate with smaller wire on the bottom but no bedding, set up on a couple of 4x4's right in the coop 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.
View attachment 1415464

Thank you, very helpful! I will give it a try. It’s going to cool down in a few days so I’ll do it then.

 

[Theeremmy]

I’m inquiring as well, just found one of my hens on these. Not sure how long she’s been on them cause I work nights during the weekend and usually over stock them with food and water so I can get sleep. But I went into the coop a little bit ago and wondered where all the eggs were. I found her in the corner of the coop on these, not in the nesting box. Is she being broody? And should I move them to a nesting box for her?

 

[aart]

I’m inquiring as well, just found one of my hens on these. Not sure how long she’s been on them cause I work nights during the weekend and usually over stock them with food and water so I can get sleep. But I went into the coop a little bit ago and wondered where all the eggs were. I found her in the corner of the coop on these, not in the nesting box. Is she being broody? And should I move them to a nesting box for her?

Do you know if she's been roosting at night?

I only call 'broody' after they've been on the nest for most the day and all night for 2-3 days running.

If she really is broody.....
You'll need to decide if you want her to hatch out some chicks, and how you will 'manage' it.
Do you have, or can you get, some fertile eggs?
Do you have the space needed? Both for more chickens and she may need to be separated by wire from the rest of the flock.
Do you have a plan on what to do with the inevitable males? Rehome, butcher, keep in separate 'bachelor pad'?
If you decide to let her hatch out some fertile eggs, this is a great thread for reference and to ask questions.
It's a long one but just start reading the first few pages, then browse thru some more at random.
http://www.backyardchickens.com/t/496101/broody-hen-thread