Stressed out Hen

[EggSighted4Life]

She isn't lethargic she just doesn't want to leave her empty nest. Can she be broody without laying? (Probably a dumb question!)

I can't wait to know...

 

[tjo804]

I would return her and watch. If you take the eggs she may stop being broody and go back to other chicken business.
Good luck.

If you think she may be ill, pictures really help here ppl look at eyes, coloring, and position and more things not everyone knows to look at or for. So pics and lots of them.

 

[michellewilles]

If she was not laying at all... that would be weird. But if she WAS laying, about 3 days in... they won't produce anymore eggs at all because their body has refocused it's attention to where the energy should go.

After you confirm is this is indeed the correct diagnosis then we can decide how you wanna move forward.

My hens will brood AIR... yes an empty nest.

Couple things. No she is not laying at all since the snake incident last week...that's what made me think it was stress. Also, we don't have a rooster so her eggs aren't fertilized.

 

[michellewilles]

I would return her and watch. If you take the eggs she may stop being broody and go back to other chicken business.
Good luck.

If you think she may be ill, pictures really help here ppl look at eyes, coloring, and position and more things not everyone knows to look at or for. So pics and lots of them.

Great idea! I don't think she is ill just stressed or broody. I have checked her "area' and she does not have any eggs in her. I put her in the yard with the other girls and she was outside for about 30 minutes then right back up to the same box. Always the same box.

 

[michellewilles]

This is my girl "Little" the one we are discussing.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

This is my girl "Little" the one we are discussing.

She doesn't care if the eggs are fertile or fake or gone... welcome to wide world of broody! Buff Orpington are KNOWN broody machines, sometimes called Blondezilla.

If you don't want to raise any chicks for you then you will want to block her out of the nest ASAP, and probably other measures we can discuss if that's your route. If you want her to raise you some then let her sit for another week or so while you find some feed store chicks to adopt during the night. Then you don't likely have to deal with any cockerels.

She is not stressed other than being broody. If she was THAT stressed it would break her broodiness. I'm glad she is NOT ill!

 

[EggSighted4Life]

If you think she may be ill, pictures really help here ppl look at eyes, coloring, and position and more things not everyone knows to look at or for. So pics and lots of them.

Yep, great suggestion.

I WISH it was as easy as taking the eggs to break a broody. I collect my eggs every single day. Broody is hormonal and boy some can be really stubborn.

I cannot block my nest because of other layers. Many will use a wire bottom kennel with no bedding to break a broody so they can't make a nest. I had one gal like that for 2 weeks and changed to open bottom pens. I still use the kennel at night inside the coop, elevated off the ground (so they can't pull bedding in).

Half hour is quite a long stay outside, depending on your temps. She may break easier than some or she may just still be inexperienced. At least she waited until 1 year old... her body and mind will be better equipped if you decide to let her raise a brood.

 

[HaliefromSC]

Hack that snake and give her a few eggs (five or seven, an odd number makes for a better circle) and I bet she'll go from stressed to happy in no time! I'm with the MAJORITY RULE: BROODY!

 

[tjo804]

I remember an article here on breaking broody. It was very helpful. I can see it in her eyes, she is brooding she is not concerned with facts. I would also hack that snake and feed it to your hens! Mine clean my yard of baby snakes every year like a toddler eating un cut spaghetti very fun to watch.

Good Luck you are doing great!

 

[EggSighted4Life]

she is brooding she is not concerned with facts.

Silly birds!