I think my chicken is broody?

Question

I think my chicken is brooding because it hasnt laid for about a week and it just sits in the corner all puffed up, i have moved her out quite alot which she doest like. but im worried she will die because shes not eating or drinking what should i do?

Answer 1

I had a hen that has the same problem.I collected all her eggs then she went broody and was sitting on nothing.I ended up having to put her in a boody box,as I call it.Which is nothing more than a small wire cage up off the ground.With only a waterer and a feed bowl.This will usually do the trick after a few days.But she wont start laying again for a few weeks.Just be sure she is completely broken of the broodiness before you put her back in the pen with the nest boxes.Good luck.

Answer 2

If she has not laid and as you say she is puffed up and not eating, it is possible she is egg bound.  That is a job for a poultry person or vet to - er to put it delicately - insert a finger and hook out the offending egg.

Are your other chickens okay?  It could also be an infection.

If she is sitting on eggs, then yes, she is broody.

Hope all goes well and it turns out not to be too sinister.

Answer 3

She'll be fine, they don't eat or drink much anyway when they're broody.  You need to put her in an ark on her own though, that way she can have her own bowl of water and food nearby so that if she does get peckish she can nibble, and also for when the chicks are born they won't get attacked by the cockerals.

I'm assuming you do have cockerals?  If not you'll just have to keep on putting her on the floor and collecting eggs often, or she'll just sit for weeks.

Answer 4

It sounds like she is broody.

Collect any eggs your other hens have laid as often as possible. Keep moving her out of the coop.

My hens tend to lay in the morning so once I know they've all laid I either shut  the coop or block the nest box to stop the broody hen from sitting. I've also dealt with broodiness by putting a pack of ice wrapped in cloth and allowed the hen to sit on it. The hens body temperature increases when they're broody and if you can get the temperature down, it should make her lose interest in sitting.

A broody hen doesn't like:

- Their undercarriage to be cool or air circulating underneath.

- Light airy nest boxes.

If you can take away either the warmth, darkness and draught-free environment this should help her snap out of her broody phase.

Be persistent as it can take upto 8 weeks before the hen snaps out of her broody phase.

Don't worry she won't die, she'll be making quick dashes to eat and drink but you may not notice or be around during that time. I move mine out and put her in front of the feed and she'll start to eat then run over and have a drink and maybe a dustbath before making a dash trying to get back into the coop. However, the longer the hen is broody, the longer it'll take before she lays again and she will lose condition.

This site may also be of use to you, it's a great resource:

http://www.henkeeping.co.uk/broody.html

Answer 5

if she has eggs under her I guess leave her alone? we don't let ours breed as we already have 50 but if there are no eggs then its something else...if you get close does she poof up and "growl" at you? ours do that when they are broody....just make sure food and water is available,its not like you can force her to eat and drink anyways...