Sudden Change of Behavior and No Eggs

[HumbleAmerican]

Of course put the cage somewhere predator proof.

 

[ciaolobster]

A wire cage up off the floor. You can block it up with wood 3-4” You want air circulation to cool off the hen helping get those hormones under control. Throw a piece of 4x4 in there so she has someplace to get off the wire and get comfortable. Leave her in there with food and water for a couple days. At the end of the second day I start letting them out toward roosting time. If she goes to the barrel, toss her back in till next evening. She’s broke when she roosts with everyone else.

Thank you so much!!

 

[HumbleAmerican]

Very welcome. Search broody breaker or broody jail for a more detailed explanation. I learned the trick here at BYC. I think there’s an actual article on it. Good stuff.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Thank you for the reply. She stopped laying and her behavior changed well before I took away the barrel. The behavior started 6ish weeks ago which is also when the laying stopped. I only took the barrel away yesterday.

Not unusual. Some birds just go broody without preamble, others slowly work up to it with more signs showing up over time (and sometimes they work their way out of it without ever committing). If they finally decide to sit on it day and night, that's when they're fully broody.

And I agree a broody cage is the best way to break them. Start by keeping her in there 48 hrs, then you can test her by letting her out to see what she does. If she roosts at night, or in general stays away from her nest location, then she's broken and can rejoin the others. If she heads back to her nest location (and they'll often not head there immediately, but within an hour is normal), then she's not broken yet and back in the cage she goes for 1 more day. Continue until she's no longer going back to the nest when allowed out,.

 

[ciaolobster]

Hi faithful team,
I have a Welsummer who is a little over 1 year old. She is part of our full flock of 22 (3 roos, 19 hens) and has historically gotten along well with everyone, roosted in the coop at night, laid consistently. However, a couple months ago, she suddenly started sitting on top of a barrel we have near the outdoor feeders and waters. She would lay her eggs up on the barrel but we would see her out and about with the others here and there, and she would return to the coop at night. Suddenly, a few weeks ago, she stopped laying eggs all together, rarely if ever got off the barrel, wouldn't return to the coop at night and she became really cranky, not enjoying being picked up and carried into the coop at night (we live on a lot of acreage surrounded by forest therefore lots of predators). I was worried she was egg bound, but she is still with us and it has been a few weeks now. I picked her up today and saw her lower chest is now bare of feathers and has a sore on it from laying down 99% of the day, 99% of the days. Today I took the barrel away and forced her to walk around with the rest of the flock. Fighting ensued for a bit and she continued to search for the barrel. As of last night, we were going to fetch her after the coop door closes and placing her on the roost in the coop, but I find her back out on the barrel as soon as that coop door opens, even before the roosters emerge. I have no clue what changed or why with her, but clearly I'm very concerned.
I very much appreciate any insight anyone may have!

Hi everyone!
Just wanted to follow up and thank you again for all of your help with my broody Welsummer. I was relieved to hear she was just broody! Clearly the first in my flock to do this in this manner. I have great news: she has broken and is back to her normal self! We spent weeks removing her from the barrel and placing her back in the coop at night, then the last few days, we removed the barrel and she started roosting on top of the feeders. But we were diligent about removing her from there and placing her on the lawn with the rest of the flock every couple hours throughout the day, and after a few days, she is back to being out and about. She even headed back into the coop to roost last night all on her own. Phew! So grateful for this outstanding and passionate community.