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Broody hens - advice please

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  • #1

    Broody hens - advice please

    Hi there

    I have a light sussex who has bn broody for more than a week now and hv bn trying to break her broodyness by turfing her off the nest and locking her out of the nesting area.
    I have a Omlet house and have even taken the droppings tray from underneath the perches so that when she roosts with the rest of the girls, there is plenty of air flow underneath her.

    Couple of days ago, another hen, this time a Black Rock has joined her - is it possible hens can pass on broodyness?

    I was getting 4 eggs/day from 4 hens and am now down to 2 eggs/day.

    There is no chance of the eggs hatching as we dont have a cockerel.

    Any advice folks?

    Many thanks

    Jan
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  • #2
    My three are broody too, and losing feathers at the same time, so no eggs at all for me for a while now. I normally just let it run its course. I'm sure others can give much better advice lol
    https://nodigadventures.blogspot.com/

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    • #3
      Well I cant moan really as the four of them have supplied me with eggs all through the winter - no one moulted which is a bit strange as two of them were from 2016. Think I've only had one broody since I started keeping hens back in 2009 so havent done bad really.

      Will see what the others have to
      say.

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      • #4
        They are far more broody in their first summer after a winter it diminishes next year and probably won't even happen. You can try all sorts of things dunking them in a bucket of water to cool their bits turfing them off the nest, keeping them shut out but, I would leave them to it and create an additional nesting area for your non broodies nearby. Difficult in an Omlet I know.

        If you persist in stopping them you will make them less inclined to trust you and more reluctant to be picked up later on.

        Nature wants what nature needs, allow them to sit, maybe get some fertile eggs for them to sit on if you want to increase your group, and allow those that still want to lay somewhere near so that they can do.
        I'm only here cos I got on the wrong bus.

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        • #5
          I let them do whatever they need to do. They have a rest while they're broody and they deserve that after laying for months. Think of it as a holiday, and they'll come back into lay all the better for it.

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          • #6
            Originally posted by Gorsty View Post
            Hi there

            I have a light sussex who has bn broody for more than a week now and hv bn trying to break her broodyness by turfing her off the nest and locking her out of the nesting area.
            Yes, prevents them sitting on Eggs.

            Originally posted by Gorsty View Post
            Hi there

            I have a Omlet house and have even taken the droppings tray from underneath the perches so that when she roosts with the rest of the girls, there is plenty of air flow underneath her.
            Not going to do much to help. Even creating more work for you.... put it back.

            Originally posted by Gorsty View Post

            Couple of days ago, another hen, this time a Black Rock has joined her - is it possible hens can pass on broodyness?
            Is that time of the year, so more likely to be a coincidence

            ensure they get plenty of food and water. You could put them in sin bins, but not going to reduce time out by much. best thing is keep them out of the nesting area...
            Last edited by 4Shoes; 09-06-2018, 09:12 PM.

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            • #7
              I think they pass it on, if after a few weeks they haven’t given up they can become sitting ducks for red mite and their health can deteriorate as ideally they would hatch some eggs and get on with it.

              If it persists, put them in a metal cage, raised up on house blocks with a perch jammed across. Keep them in there. They can’t get cosy with constant air flow underneath them.

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              • #8
                Scarlet

                Which cell in Alcatraz works better the one on top of the hill or by the beach?
                I'm only here cos I got on the wrong bus.

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                • #9
                  probably a good idea to mark the eggs she's already sitting on, if you intend to leave them with her because the other hens may well lay in her box and that way you will know which are the fresh eggs. (I would take them away, she'll still be broody, but probably not for quite so long - some hens are really determined sitters if they are on eggs or a pot egg).

                  Also bear in mind that an unfertilized egg that has been kept warm for a week or three can become a stinky explosion if carelessly handled!
                  Location - Leicestershire - Chisit-land
                  Endless wonder.

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                  • #10
                    Originally posted by mothhawk View Post
                    probably a good idea to mark the eggs she's already sitting on,
                    Also bear in mind that an unfertilized egg that has been kept warm for a week or three can become a stinky explosion if carelessly handled!

                    She isnt sitting on any eggs cos I take them out every morning when I leave for work - I thought this should discourage her from sitting. Hasnt worked so far

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                    • #11
                      Thank you for all your thoughts - looks like I wl just let them get on with it - let them have a holiday

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                      • #12
                        Originally posted by Mikey View Post
                        Scarlet

                        Which cell in Alcatraz works better the one on top of the hill or by the beach?
                        It sounds horrible but so is taking eggs from underneath her. They can carry on being broody for weeks and their health goes down hill.

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                        • #13
                          Really? I hadnt thought of that - think I may have some rubber eggs somewhere; I will have to look them out.

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                          • #14
                            Originally posted by Gorsty View Post
                            Really? I hadnt thought of that - think I may have some rubber eggs somewhere; I will have to look them out.
                            Think you've got wrong end of stick there. No eggs.

                            Put them in Sin Bins as advised by Scarlet - safe secure location (away from Fox, Badger, other predators) with food and water.

                            Rubber eggs can be used to keep the hen broody until you set hatching eggs....
                            or to identify a nest site where you want hens to lay.

                            All best..

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                            • #15
                              Originally posted by 4Shoes View Post
                              Think you've got wrong end of stick there. No eggs.


                              All best..
                              Yes, thought I was being unfair taking eggs away from her LOL

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