Sick chicken??

[jen1]

I have a 3 year old Red Laces Wyandotte who try’s to spend all of her time in the nest box. I have 13 other hens who are all healthy and I have ten 12 week old babies who are sharing the coop and run separately. Rusty does get bullied some and usually does not want to go in the run when everyone goes up after free ranging all day. I let her stay out with the guineas and she will go in around 8:30. For the last 3 days she’s been sitting in the nest box. I take her out and put her in the yard, she stays out for a little while then goes right back in. When she’s in the box I do see her pumping her tail some but not always. It flat backed or even fluffed. When I reach for her in the nest box she lets out a cackle but don’t know if it’s because she doesn’t want me to grab her...I believe that’s why. Over the last 48 hours she’s had 4 warm, Epsom Salt baths and I have given her half of a Tums mixed in her yogurt over last few days. First dose she did not eat all of but this mornings she did. I checked her vent for an egg...went 2 inches plus in and nothing. Her eyes are clear, she’s eating some (will eat scrambled eggs and oats) and drinking some. I’m just baffled and don’t know what else to do for her. It’s also been very warm and humid here for many days. Thought this could be bothering her as well. Any thoughts and thanks in advance!! Jen

 

[The Happster]

She is broody.

 

[jen1]

I assume there’s no way to confirm that? Is it uncommon though when there are no roosters in the flock? Also no eggs in the nest box... I would block off the nest box but I have other birds. She has gone in 2 different nest boxes over the last few days. I have her in my bathroom with a night light out of the heat right now so she can rest. Should I allow her back in the nest box? I Know she didn’t lay today...may have yesterday but I had 2 Red Laced so I don’t know. This is a picture of her in the bath she looks fine...Thanks for the response.

 

[Ihavesomechickens]

She’s broody. It doesn’t matter if there is a rooster or not, it doesn’t even matter if there are eggs or not! If she’s that determined I would just give her some fertile eggs to hatch.

 

[The Happster]

You could give her eggs, but remember to make sure you know what you are going to do with the boys. Because you likely will get boys. You can order some eggs online, or find someone near you who has a roo.
I think everyone should hatch once, it's an unforgettable experience.
If you don't wish to hatch any, you can break her.
People use broody jails. I don't, I just shut the hen out and try and entertain her
She might not be serious, so if you do want to hatch, I'd wait a week to make sure she proves herself.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Broodiness is all about hormones, has nothing to do with roosters or even eggs sometimes (a super fixated bird will brood absolutely nothing).

Broody jail: Put her in an isolation cage with some food and water, in sight of the others (in the coop if it's not too hot or in/near the run is ideal). A wire cage elevated to air flow under her would be the best option, however I've used everything from a brooder to a dog exercise pen.

Keep her in the cage around the clock for about 2 days. At that time, if she's shows fewer signs of broodiness (puffing up, flattening down and growling, tik tik tik noise) you can let her out to test her. If she runs back to the nest at any point (usually they don't do it immediately, but maybe after 15 minutes, maybe an hour) then she's not yet sufficiently broken and needs to go back to the cage for another 24 hours. Then let her out and test her again. Repeat until she's no longer going to the nest box.

IF the isolation cage is not safe for overnight stay (i.e. sits outside the run) then put her on the roost at night, and retrieve her from the nest box the next morning and put her back in the cage. It may take a little longer this way but better than letting a predator get to her.

 

[jen1]

You could give her eggs, but remember to make sure you know what you are going to do with the boys. Because you likely will get boys. You can order some eggs online, or find someone near you who has a roo.
I think everyone should hatch once, it's an unforgettable experience.
If you don't wish to hatch any, you can break her.
People use broody jails. I don't, I just shut the hen out and try and entertain her
She might not be serious, so if you do want to hatch, I'd wait a week to make sure she proves herself.

 

[jen1]

Thanks for your replies. I put 5 guinea hen eggs in the nest box and she was sitting within 20 minutes. I will watch her and see how things go. Thanks again!

 

[aart]

These are my go-to signs of a broody:
Is she on nest most the day and all night?
When you pull her out of nest and put her on the ground, does she flatten right back out into a fluffy screeching pancake?
Does she walk around making a low cluckcluckcluckcluckcluck(ticking bomb) sound on her way back to the nest?
If so, then she is probably broody and you'll have to decide how to manage it.

 

[jen1]

You all were right!! She is sitting on the guinea hen eggs! In fact, another hen decided to sit in the next box over...also gave her guinea eggs. I find it interesting that this has never happened before. I’ve had chickens for 3 years and not once have I had a broody hen. Now I have 2! I do wonder if putting the young chicks in with the girls early on had anything to do with it. Either way, I’m glad she is not sick!