My laying hen Buttercup isn't acting right. She's been on her nest for a week acting broody. She won't leave the nest and makes terrible noises at us if we try to get her out. However, she hasn't laid in a week either. Why would she be acting broody if she isn't laying? I got her out of the coop and checked her vent. I didn't see an egg or anything. If she is egg bound would I see the egg, or do I need to feel inside to see? There are no signs of broken eggs anywhere. I just think she isn't laying.
Any ideas what could be going on and what I could do to help?
13 comments:
I'm guessing she is just broody. My banty did the same thing. She wasn't laying any eggs herself but would stay on the nest. The only time she got out was to eat and drink, and that's when the other hens took advantage to lay their eggs, even though there is more than one nest box! That's when I got the fertilized eggs from ebay and my little hen hatched them. If you want more chickens you could try that, otherwise if you want to get her out of being broody what works for me is putting her in a wire bottom cage for a few days. You could also look up other suggestions on the internet. Good luck!
She just wants to hatch out some eggs. I've got two hens that are broody an just want to lay on the nest all day long.
Don't worry. She's probably fine and just broody.
Pick her up and take her away from the nest if you don't want her to set any eggs.
~Lisa
Hi Christy,
She's just broody. 'fraid this trait just shows where the term "bird Brain" comes from. I have a broody that's been trying to hatch a twig for a few weeks now.
Perri
Broody is right,,I have a turkey that has been trying for about 2 1/2 months. I see her out and getting a sip and a nibble every now and then, but she takes up her spot quickly. She will come out of it, try and put some eggs under her if you find some fertilized eggs. She is a smart girl! They told me when I got my chickens years ago, that they have been bred to just lay eggs and go again and don't have the instinct to brood...well I proved them wrong over and over and always get a bunch of new babies every spring! It is fascinating!!
do you have any fertilized eggs? You don't have a rooster do ya? Try to get some fertilized eggs for her to set on.
Sounds like you got your answer! I hope you find a way to make her happy...or eventually she'll give up.
I have no eggs to put under her. She was the only hen laying and she stopped about the time she went broody. Why would she suddenly stop laying? And become broody? Weird.
I'd take advantage of it and put some of the other hen's eggs under her! In 3 weeks you'd have some chicks, and Buttercup will be very pleased with herself! ;-)
If she fights too bad during the day, stick'em under her at night.
Just chicken ways...find some fertile eggs...let her set. If you don't, she will brood. If you want to break her from brooding, seperate her from her nest.
I should warn you, along with the funny noises she may peck, so be careful.
Twenty one days.
I echo what others have said. If you wants some chicks, see if your neighbor has some fertile eggs. Normally it takes about 21 days to hatch eggs so if you leave her she will probably start acting normal after that time even if you don't have any eggs for her. I would love to be in your shoes! I have seldom had full size chickens that would go broody.
Unfortunately, she was our only hen laying. So her not laying is a problem! I guess we just have to wait it out.
In addition to the wire bottom cage, you may want to try slipping a cold pack under her to discourage her from brooding.
I've had one hen (golden cochin) die from over-broodiness. She wouldn't leave the hen house to eat or drink. I'd chase her out of the nest box several times a day, but she wound up starving herself. Right now my other cochin is trilling and trying to tip over to "fatal broodiness" but so far she eats and drinks a bit when I chase her out.
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