Our Mixed Flock Journey!

[drstratton]

She's not broody? I'm a little obsessed just now. My flock has gone completely nuts with broodies.

I'm hoping that may be what's going on, but she's not sitting in the nest box, just on the edge. She's had a chance to sit on eggs before I pick them up, but she hasn't. I might leave the eggs in the boxes a little longer tomorrow & see if she decides to sit on them. If she's egg bound it's not where I can feel it. I read an article on The Happy Chicken Coop website to give her some calcium, it can cause muscle contractions to help get the egg moving, so I did that earlier. When I checked just a little bit ago, she was still sitting on the lip of the box & I could see that she has pooped quite a bit, so that's still working...so weirdly, I'm hoping broody, much better than sick!

 

[cavemanrich]

to give her some calcium,

What form of calcium did you give??

 

[drstratton]

What form of calcium did you give??

The article said that you can give tums or a calcium tablet, I had tums on hand so I gave her some of that! I just looked it up and it was The Happy Chicken Coop, not The Chicken Chick!

https://www.thehappychickencoop.com/egg-bound-chicken/

 

[Ribh]

I'm hoping that may be what's going on, but she's not sitting in the nest box, just on the edge. She's had a chance to sit on eggs before I pick them up, but she hasn't. I might leave the eggs in the boxes a little longer tomorrow & see if she decides to sit on them. If she's egg bound it's not where I can feel it. I read on the chicken chick website to give her some calcium, it can cause muscle contractions to help get the egg moving, so I did that earlier. When I checked just a little bit ago, she was still sitting on the lip of the box & I could see that she has pooped quite a bit, so that's still working...so weirdly, I'm hoping broody, much better than sick!

There's a pre~broody state some chooks go through where they're sorta deciding whether or not they'll go broody. If I can get mine before they go the whole hog & actually decide to sit they're a lot easier to manage. Mine will spend ages in the nesting box or coop pacing or tuk~tucking softly to themselves. Not all of mine get aggressive either. So much depends on the personality & age of the hen. My older girls are very tolerant of me. They understand how this goes but I have a bantam & an Aracauna who are going completely berko. First year & just now they do not like me @ all!

 

[drstratton]

There's a pre~broody state some chooks go through where they're sorta deciding whether or not they'll go broody. If I can get mine before they go the whole hog & actually decide to sit they're a lot easier to manage. Mine will spend ages in the nesting box or coop pacing or tuk~tucking softly to themselves. Not all of mine get aggressive either. So much depends on the personality & age of the hen. My older girls are very tolerant of me. They understand how this goes but I have a bantam & an Aracauna who are going completely berko. First year & just now they do not like me @ all!

Thank you for sharing that, I had no idea that they went through a pre-broody state! I never paid much attention to my bantams egg laying habits, they were just pets and more my husband & youngest sons interests than mine! I was busy with so many other things! This flock is all mine and I love them! She's definitely not aggressive, she was very tolerant of letting us handle her today, even the invasive part! Your girls sound like they have quite the personalities...little brats...

 

[Ribh]

Thank you for sharing that, I had no idea that they went through a pre-broody state! I never paid much attention to my bantams egg laying habits, they were just pets and more my husband & youngest sons interests than mine! I was busy with so many other things! This flock is all mine and I love them! She's definitely not aggressive, she was very tolerant of letting us handle her today, even the invasive part! Your girls sound like they have quite the personalities...little brats...

Personality & to spare! Yesterday I had 3 in nesting boxes getting ready to sit, a Campine & a brown layer sharing a nest in the yard & getting ready to sit. I had to go to the mainland today [I live on an island] & didn't want anyone in broody jail while I was away so I was expecting to come home to 4 or 5 girls hogging eggs but everyone was out & about & the 7 eggs were cold! Must have just got to my girls in the nick of time.

 

[drstratton]

Personality & to spare! Yesterday I had 3 in nesting boxes getting ready to sit, a Campine & a brown layer sharing a nest in the yard & getting ready to sit. I had to go to the mainland today [I live on an island] & didn't want anyone in broody jail while I was away so I was expecting to come home to 4 or 5 girls hogging eggs but everyone was out & about & the 7 eggs were cold! Must have just got to my girls in the nick of time.

I'm glad that they were considerate enough to do as you wished...lol!

So, what do you do with them when you catch them in the pre-broody stage?

 

[cavemanrich]

I had no idea that they went through a pre-broody state!

Sometimes I end up with more questions than answers
So does this organization raise chickens as a side-hobby???

 

[drstratton]

Sometimes I end up with more questions than answers
So does this organization raise chickens as a side-hobby???
View attachment 2324554

I don't know Cavey...they just might...

 

[Ribh]

I'm glad that they were considerate enough to do as you wished...lol!

So, what do you do with them when you catch them in the pre-broody stage?

The outside nest I rob then destroy. My Campine gives me the filthiest look but it seems to do the trick. The coop nesters I try a couple of things. I remove all the eggs quickly. I found my smallest bantam covering 7 standard size eggs & she was not happy to see them removed. I ruffle up the nests & put the girls in the run with some distractions. If all else fails they go in broody jail. This is a small coop but all access to the nesting boxes is blocked off & they tend to spend a day or 2 pacing & squawking @ me before returning to normal.