Silkie hens

[GabbyDee]

I have a Silkie hen that just started laying in the latter part of Oct and beginning of Nov. She laid her eggs for few days and then skip a day or two then pretty much quit laying about 2 weeks ago. She wants to set on her nest and not move (no eggs in the nest). She has made a nest out of a plastic wrapped compressed bale of straw that I had opened and put aside for bedding and nesting. During the very cold weather that we had around Christmas, she was shivering and cold, so I brought her inside the garage (the whole nest that she made). Now she does not want to move out of the nest at all, I have to make her get outside for a bit and walk around and eat and drink. She squawks just about the entire time that she is outside, she does however walk around and scratch all the while squawking, then after a few minutes (around 15-30) she goes right back to the door and wants back on her nest. Is she cold or broody? This is the first time that I've had chickens and not sure if this is normal behavior for Silkies. The other hens (RIR, Buff Orph, Barred Rock) love being outside and still laying eggs daily.

 

[nuthatched]

She's broody. Don't let her sit

 

[rosemarythyme]

Assuming you don't want to hatch:
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.

 

[GabbyDee]

Thank you very much for the information. Now I know she’s broody. I will try what you suggested about separating her. She will have to go back to the coop at night because we do have a few possums that come and visit and I don’t want to risk it with her being out of the coop.