Why is a broodiness a problem?

[foweler]

Here is another reason why broodiness with nothing to hatch is a bummer. She has plucked all of her belly feathers. Its even worse than the picture now. I guess they use them to make the nest warmer. Its been 100 out, how warm does she want it? I took the golf balls out of the nest but she insists on going in and setting on nothing.

I've built a broody cage to keep air on her belly till she gives up but I hate putting her in it. And if all of that isn't bad enough the other two will sit with her under her cage while she is in it and their production is down. I haven't got an egg from my Leghorn in two days and they are way late today. Don't know if they are going to lay or if they are going on strike until I "free Pepper"!

 

[kuntrygirl]

Quote:
What is it that makes this a problem? Well............... For starters....... I have chickens for egg laying purposes but "occasionally" (key word - occasionally- like to see baby chicks). I sell my eggs, so when they go broody, there are fewer eggs to pick and sell. My problem is that I have a large flock of chickens (lost count from my last signature post count but may be up to 100 (20 plus babies)). So, when they go broody at different times, the hatches are at different times, so the ages of the chicks are different.................sooooooooo, that means different living arrangements, setting up different pen areas due to age differences, different types of feed when they reach the "change from starter/grower to pellet feed" stage, re-introducing the hen back into the flock, introducing the new chicks to the flock. It's just a headache for me. It's like starting over every single time. I guess if you have a couple of chickens that go broody, it's not too bad, but when you get up to 10 or more that may be broody within 2 weeks of one another (constantly), then it gets complicated (well at least for me). (Found another one that went broody yesterday. Lost count of how many are setting on eggs at this time.) And for me, I always bring my girls inside when they go broody. I'm afraid to keep them outside for fear of predators breaking into their coops.

So, that is my story as to why it could be a problem. But I must say that I love seeing the chicks hatch and grow. It's a beautiful thing. So, I try not complain because I could have chickens that never go broody.

 

[clucky2]

kuntrygirl,
Your post clearly illustrates how broodiness can become a problem. Thanks for the details. With my 6 layers and no roos, we should be trouble free, but I still find it interesting to hear what others experience with thier own chickens!
thanks...over and out!

 

[juliect]

Quote:
Even without a rooster, hens will still go broody.

 

[foweler]

I have 3 pullets and no rooster. I think it's more in the breed. I wanted a Light Brahma because they are said to make good pets and that is true. She is the easiest to handle, especially when broody. I guess the two go hand in hand.

That I have yet to have a 3 egg day is kind of a bummer, but not too important.

 

[jrabbit]

yup - we have 5 hens, no roosters - and one is broody (the cochin). Where we normally get 3-4 eggs a day, now we're getting 1-2 = combination of heat and her not laying. All the hens use only one corner for a nest, so they are sharing with her. When one gets laid, she rolls it under herself - that was a pathetic thing to watch, actually.

We don't want chicks, can't have more hens, and she is a Pet, so we are just hoping she gets over it one of these days. She's been on her nest for 2 weeks. I take her out every day, and she eats, but I worry about her. She's good-natured, and she doesn't peck at me at all when I steal the eggs, every day.

--janis

 

[DianeB]

I have a red star that can be a bit broody. (I thought hybrids were not suppose to care about their eggs.) She starts to scream and hiss before and after she lays and sometimes when she goes in for the night. After she lays, I take her off her nest, pet her to calm her down and put her outside. She doesn't seem to care after she is outside. I think it is cute. I hope it doesn't get any worse!!!

DB

 

[cmom]

If you want to break her broodiness. I have a wire cage with feed and water that I put the broodies in and they don't stay broody for long as I don't put anything else in the cage and they don't like to brood on the wire.

 

[Luvin Life]

I also use the cage by themselves method. Sure doesn't take them to long to get over it.

 

[foweler]

I built a cage and had mine in it for a while but I had let her set for some time before I built the cage. Laying in the cage was wearing on her skin where she plucked the feathers and freaking out the other two chickens so I have mostly given up.

I pull her out of the nest in the morning to eat and she stays out for while before going back in. I pull her out a few times a day and sometimes she stays out for quite a while. She'll get over it eventually and as long as she eats I'll live with it.