Stressed out Hen

[michellewilles]

OK here is an update....according to ya'll and me....definately broody! We got rid of the snake and put down an apron so he or others can't come back. We also had a serious mouse issue (which brought the snake also). We have snake and mouse proofed the coop. I am forcing her to go outside with the other girls still but she always go back to the coop after a bit. but she will get water, food and poop. I can't really block her from the nest as I only have 2 nests for the 3 hens. She isn't laying at all and the other 2 are only every three days or so. If I do get ahold of an egg, should I put it under her even if it isn't fertilized?

 

[michellewilles]

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!

Unfertilized eggs?

 

[michellewilles]

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!

She isn't laying at all. In fact the 2 other girls are only laying like 1 egg every 3 days? She started to make one of y other hens broody, but it has since passed. I can't block her out unless I out her somewhere else. I have 2 nesting boxes for my 3 hens. Thoughts? Can I use grocery store eggs to put under her? I am new to this.

 

[tjo804]

You could put golf balls under her, but it will NOT break broody. Some hens loose weight and nutrients when brooding as they tend not to get off the nest more than once a day. Also depending where you are be mindful of the weather. Here in Texas I break all brooding late spring to summer it is too hot for them to choose to go without frequent water breaks. And I do not put out fans or swamp coolers mine tend to break pretty easy a week at most of taking eggs and putting them out to free range as that is a special treat for them all.
If you do not have fertilized eggs do not let her just sit on eggs that will never hatch.
Good luck to you.

 

[michellewilles]

You could put golf balls under her, but it will NOT break broody. Some hens loose weight and nutrients when brooding as they tend not to get off the nest more than once a day. Also depending where you are be mindful of the weather. Here in Texas I break all brooding late spring to summer it is too hot for them to choose to go without frequent water breaks. And I do not put out fans or swamp coolers mine tend to break pretty easy a week at most of taking eggs and putting them out to free range as that is a special treat for them all.

Good luck to you.

I am mindful of the weather. We are actually in New Mexico and it is starting to get very hot. Actually that is why I like for them to free range a little because they just go under the big bushes and have dust baths so they get a little bit more of a breeze. I have water stains all over the yard and I watch them pretty closely. They will go back in the outdoor coop and get water as well. One of my hens had an egg today and I put it under her. Is that the right thing to do? I am still learning?

 

[tjo804]

Do you want her to hatch chicks? If so yes, but each chick takes about 21 days to hatch and you don't want too much time between hatching. If you want to add more eggs I recommend storing up to 8-10 days at about 60 degrees then adding all at once.
If you do not want her to hatch chicks do not give her eggs to sit. Brooding is a hormonal change in the chickens body and being broody all the time is not healthy. IMO especially in extreme temps.

If you do not have fertilized eggs do not let her stay brooding eggs that will never hatch.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

One of my hens had an egg today and I put it under her. Is that the right thing to do? I am still learning?

No... DON'T give her ANY eggs unless you are going to adopt her some chicks.

Block her out, even if you have to do it in another area. Sitting with no hatch is a waste of condition to me. If you aren't gonna block her out then at least kick her out several times per day.

I use a dog kennel to keep my broody's in sometimes. With 80+ birds at times, I cannot afford to block all my ladies away.

Yes, broody CAN be contagious!

 

[Ragna]

you didn't get rid of him until he's dead