Overall confused, broody hen, day 25, killing chicks?

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McChooky said:
The only time you wouldn't break a broody hen is when you want her to hatch chicks.Its cruel to let her sit on eggs that are not fertile
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This site is wonderful! so many great people to help us relative "newbies". I have noticed several other things happening recently, any recommendations would be appreciated. I had one hen die (I think it was Aug 31)...I did post about it under

Sick hen- lethargic​

you can read the thread there...I now have 6 hens left (counting the broody girl). All the others have just about quit laying...over the last couple of weeks they've been laying between 3 & 4 eggs per day at best, the last 2 days were 3 eggs, today only 2....is something else going on? They are young...started laying end of August a year ago. The broody girl is an Easter-egger, I have another Easter-egger who has not layed in at least 2 weeks. (It's nice that I can tell who it is since they are the only 2 that lay blue eggs) Also the last couple of days I've noticed in their favorite nesting box, a lot of liquid looking nesting material and the eggs that are in the box are covered with a sticky, yolky looking coating to which the nesting material sticks. No signs of any shell... For what should I be watching? Might there something bigger going on?
As mentioned before, I would appreciate any assistance!

​

 
When you say 'all just about quit laying' are you referring to other young chickens or older hens?Sometimes young hens will lay shell less eggs or thin shelled eggs that are easily broken.I have a wyandotte I rescued a few years ago.The 1st year she didn't lay at all but now she regularly lays a thin shelled egg.It gets broken in the nest by the other hens and they eat it.
 
McChooky said:
When you say 'all just about quit laying' are you referring to other young chickens or older hens?Sometimes young hens will lay shell less eggs or thin shelled eggs that are easily broken.I have a wyandotte I rescued a few years ago.The 1st year she didn't lay at all but now she regularly lays a thin shelled egg.It gets broken in the nest by the other hens and they eat it.
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Thank you SO much for replying. They all hatched within the same week, so they're all the same age, all started laying within a short time frame last Aug (2024)....
 
Mis pollitos said:
Thank you SO much for replying. They all hatched within the same week, so they're all the same age, all started laying within a short time frame last Aug (2024)....
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Most chickens molt in the fall and quit laying temporarily (my runs full of feathers) There are many reasons why chickens will stop laying.Its easier to eliminate the causes so you can narrow it down to just a few
 
McChooky said:
Most chickens molt in the fall and quit laying temporarily (my runs full of feathers) There are many reasons why chickens will stop laying.Its easier to eliminate the causes so you can narrow it down to just a few
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yeah...I've seen some nice white feathers, but otherwise, nothing
 
carlyt said:
My 1st hen went broody 7 out of 10 eggs hatched, perfect no issues. Shortly after, the Hen#2 went broody (I thought it would be as easy as the first..)
Day 19 I moved the Tupperware nesting box into a dog kennel for lock down. I wanted them on a flat surface when they hatched (as per fb advice) so the evening of Day 20 I took away the tupperware and had her eggs on the ground (just like Hen#1). Came out the next morning and there was a dead bloody chick in the corner of the kennel and she was off the eggs pacing and acting very distressed, I opened up the kennel to check it out and she bolted. The eggs were cold. I had to run to work so I couldn't mess around so I left the door open thinking she would come back but when I came home she was in a nesting box sitting on different eggs. I moved her back to kennel but this time I added back in the tupperwear. She was happy to sit on the eggs.
Day 24 I went out after work and she was still on the eggs but there was a dead chick bloody in front of her. Is that evidence to say she's killing them?
Day 25 (today) I went out and she was pacing so I just opened the door and let her out thinking the eggs were dead. One had a hole and smelled rotten. I picked up the eggs and was going to toss them all on the ground. I threw one and the chick was still alive... I put the eggs back in the box and got Broody Hen#3 to sit on the 4 eggs that were left..

Hen#3 and Hen#4 were sitting on like 20+ eggs in the same nesting box, so I pulled #3 out to sit on the Day 25 eggs... I am just not sure. I'm guessing these day 25 eggs wont hatch and ill end up putting her back with Hen#4. But also... WTH is going on with HEN#2 (the killer)..

This is my first time hatching and having broody hens, and I am quite overwhelmed. I also didn't think Leghorns were supposed to go broody..!!
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My broody abandoned the last egg in the nest after I started moving things around in the room. Fortunately she didn't destroy the egg or kill the chicks but some do when stressed.The best thing we can do when they're hatching their chicks is not disturb them
 

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