Should I borrow a rooster for a few days?

[Taj007]

It's sad to see one of my hens (an Easter egg layer) sometimes laying her lovely green eggs in the backyard area (Under the Bougainville bush or a dense flowering shrub) vs in the nesting boxes. We let our girls free range most days . She's been at it for abt a year - we feel we should do something abt it. Is the humane thing to - get a rooster so she can have chicks of her own? Has anyone been in this situation and how does one borrow a rooster?

 

[keesmom]

Is she actually broody (sitting on the eggs) or just laying outside the nesting boxes?

 

[50-45-1]

. She's been at it for abt a year -

She has been broody for a year?!!
if so its a wonder she is not dead.
Borowing a rooster sounds risky. Dangerous for your hens and stressful
How about finding some local fertle eggs? Check craigslist or other chicken owners in your vacinity..
How about going to your local feed store and buying her some day old chicks? Place them under her after dark and by morning check that she is mothering them.
This is what i did when some shipped eggs failed to hatch.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Doesn't sound like she's broody. Does sound like she's chosen her own nesting site instead of using the nest boxes.

 

[Taj007]

She's been just creating new nesting sites and hiding away eggs vs. being broody. I like the idea abt getting fertilized eggs or a chick. Although I wonder how the other hens (3 - 2 Barred Plymouths and 1 Golden sexlink) will react - given they're not in this 'mothering' mode.

 

[keesmom]

She's been just creating new nesting sites and hiding away eggs vs. being broody. I like the idea abt getting fertilized eggs or a chick. Although I wonder how the other hens (3 - 2 Barred Plymouths and 1 Golden sexlink) will react - given they're not in this 'mothering' mode.

Your easter egg hen isn't in mothering mode either. She just wants a private place to lay.

 

[starri33]

She's been just creating new nesting sites and hiding away eggs vs. being broody. I like the idea abt getting fertilized eggs or a chick. Although I wonder how the other hens (3 - 2 Barred Plymouths and 1 Golden sexlink) will react - given they're not in this 'mothering' mode.

finding new nesting spots sounds like a normal behavior to me for a chicken, if she's not staying on the nest, I'd guess that she's not broody. Mine will find different places in the run to lay, I'll find it, take the eggs and they find another spot, then they will go back to laying in the nest boxes for a few weeks and it starts all over again.

 

[aart]

Free range birds sometimes need to be 'trained'(or re-trained) to lay in the coop nests, especially new layers. Leaving them locked in the coop for a week or so can help 'home' them to lay in the coop nests. Fake eggs/golf balls in the nests can help 'show' them were to lay. They can be confined to coop and maybe run 24/7 for a few days to a week, provided you have adequate space and ventilation, or confine them at least until mid to late afternoon. You help them create a new habit and they will usually stick with it. ..at least for a good while, then repeat as necessary.

 

[SurferchickinSB]

She has been broody for a year?!!
if so its a wonder she is not dead.
Borowing a rooster sounds risky. Dangerous for your hens and stressful
How about finding some local fertle eggs? Check craigslist or other chicken owners in your vacinity..
How about going to your local feed store and buying her some day old chicks? Place them under her after dark and by morning check that she is mothering them.
This is what i did when some shipped eggs failed to hatch.View attachment 2133006

Excellent recommendation!

 

[Taj007]

Thanks for all your suggestions. Really appreciate it. I'll try to retrain her first (assuming it is not a mothering instinct) - with golf balls and restricted free range although restricting might not work since the other girls will be out and about. Starting with golf balls.
Here's a shot of our gorgeous and shy Easter egg layer Isabel