Won’t leave laying box

[MooresonaMission]

Our little silkie will not leave the laying box. She’s not laying any eggs. The other chickens (who are normally mean to her) have gone to laying eggs where ever in the coop. The other Silkie and one Red will often sit with her. But she only comes out occasionally and not for very long. This has gone on for several days. I thought maybe it was the heat, but the last two days has been considerably cooler.
Is this a problem? Or let it go?

 

[Brahmachicken240]

Sounds like you have a broody.
Does she puff up, growl, scream and peck at you when you try to get the eggs ?

 

[MagpieDucks]

Typical broody behavior.

 

[HuffleClaw]

Sounds like you have a broody.
Does she puff up, growl, scream and peck at you when you try to get the eggs ?

Typical broody behavior.

 

[MooresonaMission]

Sounds like you have a broody.
Does she puff up, growl, scream and peck at you when you try to get the eggs ?

Not really, she’s sweet about us taking the eggs. But if she can she will roll it back under her.
We got her out today and gave her water in a dish and some meal worms. She wasn’t interested and went over and made a dust bath. We let her sit for a bit then put her back in the run, she went right up to the coop.

But if this is broody, then I won’t worry.

 

[Henriettamom919]

Not really, she’s sweet about us taking the eggs. But if she can she will roll it back under her.
We got her out today and gave her water in a dish and some meal worms. She wasn’t interested and went over and made a dust bath. We let her sit for a bit then put her back in the run, she went right up to the coop.

But if this is broody, then I won’t worry.

Mine didn't get mean during her broody spell either so it took me a bit to recognize it as she was my first. Yours is definitely broody!

Are you going to let her hatch? If not you'll want to break her of it otherwise this can go on for weeks and leave her malnourished.

 

[aart]

But if this is broody, then I won’t worry.

Well, you should either set her up in a safe place to hatch or break her broodiness.

 

[MooresonaMission]

Well, you should either set her up in a safe place to hatch or break her broodiness.

She won’t quit on her own? How do I break her of it? She can’t hatch- we don’t have a rooster. I guess it’s not instinct to quit?

 

[Henriettamom919]

She won’t quit on her own? How do I break her of it? She can’t hatch- we don’t have a rooster. I guess it’s not instinct to quit?

Nope, unfortunately she'll keep at it. Since chicks hatch at 21 days you're looking at that being the minimum and its really rough on their health as they only leave once every 24 hours to poop a giant poo, eat like it's their last meal, guzzle a days worth of water and quickly dust bathe. Some won't even come down to do that and need to be tossed out once a day.

In that time they'll strip their chest of most feathers (to fluff the nest), lose weight and generally are put through the wringer. Then, once chicks hatch they'll start making up for lost time but since a broody with no eggs has no end date she'll do this and never get that closure of chicks.

To break her just put her in a wire cage with wire bottom. A dog crate with wire bottom also works. Put feed and water in with her but NO bedding. Every evening at roost time let her out. If she goes up to roost then you're good but if she runs back to the nesting box back to the broody breaker she goes!

On average it's about three days.

Good luck!

 

[CHELLYB0E]

Nope, unfortunately she'll keep at it. Since chicks hatch at 21 days you're looking at that being the minimum and its really rough on their health as they only leave once every 24 hours to poop a giant poo, eat like it's their last meal, guzzle a days worth of water and quickly dust bathe. Some won't even come down to do that and need to be tossed out once a day.

In that time they'll strip their chest of most feathers (to fluff the nest), lose weight and generally are put through the wringer. Then, once chicks hatch they'll start making up for lost time but since a broody with no eggs has no end date she'll do this and never get that closure of chicks.

To break her just put her in a wire cage with wire bottom. A dog crate with wire bottom also works. Put feed and water in with her but NO bedding. Every evening at roost time let her out. If she goes up to roost then you're good but if she runs back to the nesting box back to the broody breaker she goes!

On average it's about three days.

Good luck!

My little bantam feisty is doing this broody behavior too. If I walk near her she lets out an awful scream and she puffs up her feathers. I took away her nesting box but she decided to go into a little round plastic planter box. Does she have to be separated from her sister in this cage? Does she have to sleep in it too if she won’t roost? I got her to get out for like a half hour because I gave her watermelon and meal worms. But she went back to the planter at night she won’t leave the planter also