Newbie with broody hen question

[Puravidagal]

Oh yes, she has shelter from the elements and of course temperature is not a problem. I initially made her a nesting box from a wooden crate and lined it with hay from a friend's farm, but she wasn't interested. I moved it several places at the time in efforts to entice her to begin laying because she was exhibiting signs. Then we discovered her hidden cache. I may try that again if she doesn't return to her usual spot. We just enjoy her being with us and getting an egg is a bonus! Thank you for your help.

 

[GirlsMommy18]

Well, if you're interested in training her to lay in a box her shelter, keep her locked in until she lays, then let her outside. After a week or two, she should get it and you can let her out all day again. Golf balls in the bin to mimic eggs helps. She should start returning during the day to your nest to lay once she is trained.

 

[Puravidagal]

Well, if you're interested in training her to lay in a box her shelter, keep her locked in until she lays, then let her outside. After a week or two, she should get it and you can let her out all day again. Golf balls in the bin to mimic eggs helps. She should start returning during the day to your nest to lay once she is trained.

Thanks GirlsMommy18. I will definitely do that if she abandons her usual spot. I will admit defeat to my hen tonight because after removing her from the nest several times during the day and getting her to eat a bit and drink, she scurried right back to the nest. When I removed her after several hours on the nest, there was no egg. Not sure if she just hadn't layed yet, I allowed her to stay mid-afternoon as she usually roosts at 5:20 (it's dark here at 5:30 year 'round). I pulled her off about 4:30 and there was no egg. Now I wonder if she can be broody without laying an egg. Is that possible?

The next hour was quite a show--she kept running back to the nest and I kept pulling her off. She has always roosted in a tree at the corner of our yard, but she was not interested in going there. She spent last night on the nest and is there tonight as well because after about 12 attempts, I surrendered to her wishes. One determined lady! I am trying to find a cage, but will try the cold water bottle tomorrow and see what happens.

 

[GirlsMommy18]

Sounds very determined indeed! Mine sit on empty nests as well. It's hormonal, not logical. She's just doing what instincts tell her right now.

 

[SimplyLivinthatFarmLife]

Hey and ! So glad you joined this great site with loads of information and lots of helpful people. Good luck with Henna.

 

[Puravidagal]

Hey and ! So glad you joined this great site with loads of information and lots of helpful people. Good luck with Henna.

Thanks SimplyLivinthatFarmLife and I love your philosophy and name!

 

[Puravidagal]

Sounds very determined indeed! Mine sit on empty nests as well. It's hormonal, not logical. She's just doing what instincts tell her right now.

Giving this more thought because this is all new to me, I've been wondering...In all the information I've read, no one has said anything about just allowing the hen to continue being broody. I get it's a natural thing, and I'm really not one to fight Mother Nature. We don't particularly care about the eggs; we just enjoy her company and want to keep her coming around and roosting on our property. So I've been thinking probably most folks want to break the broodiness because they want the eggs. If we don't, it wouldn't harm Henna to let her brood it out for the 3 weeks or so, would it? She definitely is in Mama Mode! No matter how many times I remove her, she'll eat a tiny bit, drink, take a brief dust bath and then runs back to the nest. Even tried the ice pack today, so that's what got me thinking about just letting nature take its course. Hopefully she'll return to laying when it passes and if not, we'd be happy just having her stay with us as a pet. Am I wrong or right in my assumption here?

 

[rosemarythyme]

If we don't, it wouldn't harm Henna to let her brood it out for the 3 weeks or so, would it?

Generally they should be fine, as you said it's something they're designed to do. It is possible that she could lose so much body condition that it would be fatal, but that's very rare.

I personally would rather my birds not lose weight, not lose feather condition, and just break it and get it over with, as I don't intend for them to raise chicks.

 

[GirlsMommy18]

They can stay broody for months without chicks. The main reason I break broodiness is because how hard it is on them. They don't eat much, they don't drink, they pull out their feathers, and go into a trance almost. Even just waiting for eggs to hatch my hen lost a lot of weight. Any longer than a normal hatch could be dangerous for Henna. So could sleeping on the ground with predators around, especially in a broody trance.

 

[Puravidagal]

Generally they should be fine, as you said it's something they're designed to do. It is possible that she could lose so much body condition that it would be fatal, but that's very rare.

I personally would rather my birds not lose weight, not lose feather condition, and just break it and get it over with, as I don't intend for them to raise chicks.

Very interesting. I read about the weight loss and didn't mind removing her to feed and drink numerous times a day. You've given me new things to consider, RosemaryThyme. Thanks so much.