MJ's little flock

[Lexicon]

Day 12 for Mary

View attachment 2862130

She seems to be coping well with no harm done to herself or her friends.

I can't see a reason to intervene and if she wants to keep on for another 9-10 days, barring unforeseen events, that will be ok.

I have one hen who is often broody. She has gone broody every month for the past five months.
This time around I have not broken her and it has now been three weeks.

I decided to try this because I hoped that it might get it out of her system until next summer if she sat longer. Also the other hens are not laying as much, so there is not too much drama over the nests and there haven't been fights.

Usually my other two Orpingtons get in flapping, biting fights with the others when they are off the nest while broody. Penny is a mild-mannered hen who doesn't like to fight. She will have to deal with some confrontations though once she rejoins the flock. I am now trying to encourage her to spend less time on the nest since it has been about three weeks. She seems healthy if a bit thin. Her comb has shrunken, but I believe that can be normal for a broody.

 

[RoyalChick]

I have one hen who is often broody. She has gone broody every month for the past five months.
This time around I have not broken her and it has now been three weeks.

I decided to try this because I hoped that it might get it out of her system until next summer if she sat longer. Also the other hens are not laying as much, so there is not too much drama over the nests and there haven't been fights.

Usually my other two Orpingtons get in flapping, biting fights with the others when they are off the nest while broody. Penny is a mild-mannered hen who doesn't like to fight. She will have to deal with some confrontations though once she rejoins the flock. I am now trying to encourage her to spend less time on the nest since it has been about three weeks. She seems healthy if a bit thin. Her comb has shrunken, but I believe that can be normal for a broody.

Sorry if this is a dumb thing to say, but isn't it an odd time of year to go broody just as we go into winter?

 

[Lexicon]

Sorry if this is a dumb thing to say, but isn't it an odd time of year to go broody just as we go into winter?

Yes! Penny and I have had this conversation multiple times!

 

[MaryJanet]

Don't know. This is new stuff to me. I know, from one extreme to another,
I've gone from semi feral/free range mainly healthy independent tribes to a bunch of contained sickly Ex Batts and rescues.
It's now a case of learning what works best for them while trying to give them more independence and a more natural life. Not many are going to live for long.
Two I know of I will probably have to kill in the not to distant future; hopefully not but I've identified with some who is pooping what and a couple have reproductive problems or organ disease.

To be honest, I've been expecting this post from you. There was no way a bunch of neglected chooks could be disease/infection free, especially as so many of them are ex-battery hens and we know of one who died unnoticed by humans.

They're in safe hands. They'll get whatever treatment they need and they won't be in pain any longer than necessary, while enjoying some of the better things in life, like foraging, good food and company.

 

[MaryJanet]

I have one hen who is often broody. She has gone broody every month for the past five months.
This time around I have not broken her and it has now been three weeks.

I decided to try this because I hoped that it might get it out of her system until next summer if she sat longer. Also the other hens are not laying as much, so there is not too much drama over the nests and there haven't been fights.

Usually my other two Orpingtons get in flapping, biting fights with the others when they are off the nest while broody. Penny is a mild-mannered hen who doesn't like to fight. She will have to deal with some confrontations though once she rejoins the flock. I am now trying to encourage her to spend less time on the nest since it has been about three weeks. She seems healthy if a bit thin. Her comb has shrunken, but I believe that can be normal for a broody.

They don't expend energy while sitting still so it makes sense they don't eat as much and use up stored energy instead.

Weight loss in broodies makes sense to me, what does everyone else think?

 

[MaryJanet]

Yes! Penny and I have had this conversation multiple times!

Is she a Silkie? I've read Silkies like to brood.

 

[Ribh]

Don't know. This is new stuff to me. I know, from one extreme to another,
I've gone from semi feral/free range mainly healthy independent tribes to a bunch of contained sickly Ex Batts and rescues.
It's now a case of learning what works best for them while trying to give them more independence and a more natural life. Not many are going to live for long.
Two I know of I will probably have to kill in the not to distant future; hopefully not but I've identified with some who is pooping what and a couple have reproductive problems or organ disease.

You will work it out. I've been expecting to hear some of the ex batts won't make it. It's one of the sad parts of rescuing.

 

[LozzyR]

They don't expend energy while sitting still so it makes sense they don't eat as much and use up stored energy instead.

Weight loss in broodies makes sense to me, what does everyone else think?

Yes, that sounds about right, but I’m sure more experienced keepers will be able to say with more authority.

 

[Lexicon]

Is she a Silkie? I've read Silkies like to brood.

No, she is a Buff Orpington.

Here's a photo of Penny right before she went broody.

 

[MaryJanet]

No, she is a Buff Orpington.

Here's a photo of Penny right before she went broody.
View attachment 2862878

Oh, she's lovely!