Possible broody

[aart]

Some of my birds spend hours lounging in the nests...they are not broody.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Some of my birds spend hours lounging in the nests...they are not broody.

I always have an urge to give them a magazine to read, or wheel the tv into the coop for them loungers.

 

[ShrekDawg]

Some of my birds spend hours lounging in the nests...they are not broody.

I always have an urge to give them a magazine to read, or wheel the tv into the coop for them loungers.

Wow I had no idea they did that!

 

[ShrekDawg]

So she was still on there when they went to bed. I made sure I waited till after dark to be sure she wouldn't change her mind. Nope, stayed on the nest. Actually, when I went to check, there was another hen on the nest too! I guess Penny is influencing them all... I was worried because I only counted 6 on the roof. Angel isn't as determined as Penny though; as soon as I shined a flashlight in the coop she vacated. Penny on the other hand stayed put. She even decided to brood in the mud after I removed her from the nest!!

Funniest thing I ever saw.

But after I snapped the pic I picked her up and talked to her for a minute or so and after that she walked around a bit and I think ate some and I think she's on the roost not the nest. But she was protesting the whole time.

[VIDEO]

She also had moved eggs into her nest. I had 4 fake eggs, 2 in her nest, 1 each in the other 2, she moved those and probably other hens eggs into her nest box...

She's one determined gal.

But I forgot I had the fake eggs, I'm sure that doesn't help, so I removed those and will collect multiple times daily now.

 

[ShrekDawg]

Oh and also the protesting went on for like a minute before the video too

 

[longfellow]

I put an ice pack in the nesting box under her. That did the trick. I thought she would leave the nest. But she just kept on sitting. After an hour I pulled her out. She had been brooding for a few weeks. But she never returned to the nest... boy was I glad. That was a major pain. The Ice pack cooled her with out any disruptions...

 

[ShrekDawg]

Thanks! I never thought of an ice pack. That's a brilliant idea and a lot easier for me than finding a wire crate. If she doesn't break soon I will try those. Bur hopefully with no fake eggs, me collecting the real ones, and me removing her from the nest at night, she'll give up

 

[longfellow]

The last 3 chickens I've had to break would sit on nothing. Forever. Eggs didn't seem to be the issue. But I really did think it was the ice pack that worked. I just would have a few packs to trade them out as they warm up...

 

[ShrekDawg]

Huh, so then it's just hormones or something? I'll have to get some ice packs

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Just be careful you don't give your hen frostbite.