Won't leave nest

[tquadchicken]

Hello. I have 50 birds and recently two will not leave the nests on their own. I mean never leave the nest. The thing is they're not sitting on eggs. Both are healthy because I've removed them to let them free range on our acreage and they do all the things you'd expect a chicken to do but as soon as they come back to their fenced area its right back to the nest. I know some are more broody than others but I'm wondering if I should try to break them of the habit or let them work it out on their own time. Thoughts?

Thanks

 

[animallover505]

If you want them to hatch out eggs, don't break them of it. If you want them to lay, probably.

 

[tquadchicken]

I should have stipulated that I do want to break them of the habit seeing as how there's no rooster amongst the 50. I only want them to lay eggs and up to this point that's what's been happening. I'm looking for someone who has a good method of dealing with this.

 

[Mum]

If you leave them to break on their own, you could have a wait of 3 or even 4 weeks.

To break them from their broodiness there are several methods I have read (but never tried; I don't break mine):-

- dunk their bottom in a bucket of cold water
or
- seperate them into an upturned dog crate
or
- spray them with a hose
or
- put them in a seperate coop. This I learned by accident when I *wanted* them to remain broody and moved the hen and eggs. She was so cross with me, it broke her broodiness

Because you want egg production, I think you would be wise to break them. Not only will you not get any eggs all the while they are broody, they also lose condition while they wait it out for chicks (which will never come!) by only feeding once a day, losing weight, losing feathers. Then, it would take another couple of weeks to get their energy levels back up ready to produce more eggs.

Hope that helps