one hen trying to stop another’s bloodiness??

[Bootsintheboot]

Hello! Coming with an unusual issue I think- wanted to see if anyone has experienced this.

One of our three hens (10 months old) as the days are getting SHORTER, no less, is going broody! Has been like this for a few weeks. We are actively trying to stop it. No rooster.

Something weird has been happening this week, however. One of the other hens has been pulling out all the straw/hay stuff from both of our lying boxes like a maniac so that the boxes have no padding. And the padding stuff is all over their run. There have also been a few laying box confrontations with broody and maniac.

Our third hen just goes in and lays with the broody hen in the box, doesn’t seem to blink an eye. Anyway- could this be some sort of sabatoging behavior?!

 

[STACEYH]

No. Your pullets (hen after a yr old) are working things out. They are new to laying and they have instincts on making a nest. Sometimes they get a bit ambitious with it. If you can close off your nest box after they laid for the day. It will help with broody and stop manic.
They should only be in nesting boxes to lay their eggs and nothing more.

 

[aart]

Broody's can cause contention in the flock.

We are actively trying to stop it.

What have you tried to do to stop the broodiness?

If you don't want her to hatch out chicks, IMO it's best to break her broodiness promptly.

My experience goes about like this: After her setting for 3 days and nights in the nest (or as soon as I know they are broody), I put her in a wire dog crate (24"L x 18"W x 21"H) with smaller wire(1x2) on the bottom but no bedding, set up on a couple of 4x4's right in the coop or run with feed and water.

After 48 hours I let her out of crate very near roosting time(30-60 mins) if she goes to roost great, if she goes to nest put her back in crate for another 48 hours.

Tho not necessary a chunk of 2x4 for a 'roost' was added to crate floor, gives the feet a break from the wire floor and encourages roosting.

 

[Bootsintheboot]

We’re pulling her out, taking the eggs out, blocking it a bit, I’m going to try to get her to eat tomorrow, has pulled lots of her feathers and is losing weight. Think I’ll scramble an egg or something. Yeah maybe the weather being so warm is confusing them too! It’s getting warmer instead of colder which is troubling.

 

[aart]

We’re pulling her out, taking the eggs out, blocking it a bit, I’m going to try to get her to eat tomorrow, has pulled lots of her feathers and is losing weight. Think I’ll scramble an egg or something. Yeah maybe the weather being so warm is confusing them too! It’s getting warmer instead of colder which is troubling.

Broody has nothing to so with temperature.
Get her in a breaker crate, pronto.