NOT going broody!

[chuckachucka]

One of my hens, a two year old Asil, has gone broody and raised chicks three times. She started laying eggs at 6 months old, laid for a couple of months, sat for three weeks and mothered the chicks four months. Laid again, sat again, mothered again...and the same for the third batch. Each time she laid about 20-30 eggs before going broody. And she is a very good mother hen. She cannot be broken once brooding and is a fierce protector of chicks for around four months each time...

Except this time she kicked out the chicks at 16 weeks when she resumed laying, but has STILL not gone broody. Twelve weeks and more than 50 eggs later she is still showing no signs of going broody. This is annoying as I was counting on her to hatch me some chicks but it is also a problem because the quality of her egg shells is abysmal.

I believe that her body is just not made for laying a lot of eggs as her eggs always start out looking nice, pale brown and smooth, but by the time she stops laying to brood they are always very thin shelled, white and covered in calcium deposits and misshapen with creases. I mean they look just awful at the moment as if her shell gland desperately needs a rest! She is otherwise seemingly healthy, eats layer pellets with access to oyster shell and free ranges all day in my large garden. There is no reason for her eggs to be so bad except that she needs a break from laying.

So why isn't she going broody? What'sgoing on?

 

[azygous]

If her eggs are misshapen and creased, it could be due to a virus. That might also explain why she won't go broody. A hen needs to be in solid good health to withstand the health toll incubating eggs takes on her body.

If her eggs are due to a virus (Infectious bronchitis), you wouldn't want to hatch her eggs as the virus can be transferred to the chicks in the eggs.

It may be possible for her to carry the virus and not show symptoms until she becomes stressed. You might be able to have her tested to confirm this. I recommend calling an agricultural lab and asking them about testing a live chicken.

 

[aart]

4 months is a long time to be mothering the chicks.....and she did not lay during that time? Has she ever molted?

 

[WhatAboutBob?]

Except this time she kicked out the chicks at 16 weeks when she resumed laying, but has STILL not gone broody. Twelve weeks and more than 50 eggs later she is still showing no signs of going broody. This is annoying as I was counting on her to hatch me some chicks but it is also a problem because the quality of her egg shells is abysmal.

So why isn't she going broody? What'sgoing on?

4 months is an exceptionally long time to brood a clutch of chicks, from what I've heard and read. 12 to 16 weeks is more of a normal time frame for broodiness, IMO - but I could be wrong. Seems from what I have read, broodiness is a hormonal issue, but again I could be wrong.

 

[aart]

4 months is an exceptionally long time to brood a clutch of chicks, from what I've heard and read. 12 to 16 weeks is more of a normal time frame for broodiness, IMO - but I could be wrong. Seems from what I have read, broodiness is a hormonal issue, but again I could be wrong.

Well, 16 weeks is ~4 months.
My first broody weaned at about 6-8 weeks(was a Feb brood).
My second, this Mar/Apr, weaned at 4 weeks.

 

[Mork.Mindy.Lucy.Maya]

We have had this happen before I don’t not know why this does but if you be pacient then it should happen. if u really want baby’s You could take some of her eggs and but them in a incubator.

 

[WhatAboutBob?]

Well, 16 weeks is ~4 months.
My first broody weaned at about 6-8 weeks(was a Feb brood).
My second, this Mar/Apr, weaned at 4 weeks.

Doh! LOL! That is what I get for posting with a head cold!

 

[Akrnaf2]

4 months is a long time to be mothering the chicks.....and she did not lay during that time? Has she ever molted?

Asil is a breed with VERY low annual egg production around 40-45.
And not every hen from every breed become broody.

 

[bobbi-j]

One of my hens, a two year old Asil, has gone broody and raised chicks three times. She started laying eggs at 6 months old, laid for a couple of months, sat for three weeks and mothered the chicks four months. Laid again, sat again, mothered again...and the same for the third batch. Each time she laid about 20-30 eggs before going broody. And she is a very good mother hen. She cannot be broken once brooding and is a fierce protector of chicks for around four months each time...

Except this time she kicked out the chicks at 16 weeks when she resumed laying, but has STILL not gone broody. Twelve weeks and more than 50 eggs later she is still showing no signs of going broody. This is annoying as I was counting on her to hatch me some chicks but it is also a problem because the quality of her egg shells is abysmal.

I believe that her body is just not made for laying a lot of eggs as her eggs always start out looking nice, pale brown and smooth, but by the time she stops laying to brood they are always very thin shelled, white and covered in calcium deposits and misshapen with creases. I mean they look just awful at the moment as if her shell gland desperately needs a rest! She is otherwise seemingly healthy, eats layer pellets with access to oyster shell and free ranges all day in my large garden. There is no reason for her eggs to be so bad except that she needs a break from laying.

So why isn't she going broody? What'sgoing on?

If you want to hatch chicks on your schedule, you'll have to get an incubator.

 

[chickengeorgeto]

One of my hens... mothered chicks [for] four months. Laid again, sat again, mothered again...and the same for the third batch.... Except this time she kicked out the chicks at 16 weeks.... when she resumed laying, but has STILL not gone broody.... by the time she [starts] to brood her eggs are always very thin shelled, white and covered in calcium deposits and misshapen...

Look into Infectious Bronchitis.

I know that I graduated from school in Alabama but when I was in school 4 months was equal to 16 weeks. Are weeks or months longer or shorter now than they use to be?