Wing It Ranch

[WingItRanch]

Good news. I let both girls out of chicken jail on Friday night and they're back to their normal selves. Special is even back to laying eggs. The Ancona is not yet.

I learned a lesson, though. I removed all the fake eggs from the nesting boxes in hopes that would help prevent broodiness. Well... that was stupid. Since there weren't fake eggs to help spread the hens out to use different boxes, I ended up with 12 eggs in one box and a few of them broken. The ones that weren't broken were covered in yolk. I was able to wash 9 of them and stick them in the fridge but can't sell them. That'll teach me...

 

[wrathsfarm]

I think you did the right thing as she seemed to be all over the map, but like @Auntiejessi3 mentioned, she may not have been fully committed yet. You may not see eggs from her for awhile now, depending on if it triggered her to stop laying.

 

[Auntiejessi3]

I've read that broodiness can be contagious!

Extremely

I hope this little setup works. I don't have a dog crate and would rather not use one if I don't have to. Hopefully just removing their access to the nest will work.

Anything will work. Most of the time if I don't have chicks in the grow out area I put them in there. It's really just about removing them from their chosen nest and making sure there is no where comfy for them to bed down.