wierd acting hens (not laying)

[beckys flock]

My white hen is still laying. She will walk away and go about her usual activities. The other two... well thats a different story. The black hen sits and acts broody over the white ones egg (but has stopped laying herself)... and my Red hen actually sits on top of the blackHEN! (to extent we wonder if she thinks shes a rooster?...& is also not laying... also squalks broodylike)... they've been like this for few weeks now... we only have these hens (no roos)... been broody before.. never both at once and never for so long, usually forcing out in run seemed to snap them out in day or so... not this time. If force them into run, these two will shuffle to a corner and act same as in nestbox... however, in run they do have more periods of walking around and pecking food. Put out plenty water... but concerns me that in this recent heat they might dehydrate or maybe even smother one another. Can someone help explain this wierdness? Is it extended broodiness? How do you snap them out of it?

 

[GitaBooks]

Yes, it sounds like they are both broody. You can either let them go broody or break them up. There are two ways to break up a broody well:
When they go into the nest box dip their belly and legs into cool (not cold) water. This isn't mean, it doesn't feel bad, but it will help shock them out of being broody.

The other way is putting them in a wire cage until, when let out, they return to a roost instead of the nest box at night.

They should be okay if they get off once or twice a day for water, as it is hot here and I had a broody hen. She just recently got chicks.

I hope this helps. Best of luck!