[Fat Hen]

Hi I have 4 hens (a Silkie, a Sultan & 2 ex batts).  My Sultan has gone broody, she sits in the hen house all day.  And has been doing for about 2 weeks.

I have hauled her out at times, when she eats frantically for 1/2 hour and goes back in staying in the house even though i've knicked all the eggs.

Now when I take her out she is picked on by the other hens (never a problem in past), she fluffs herself up and arch's her wings out to look bigger I presume.

I'm rather worried about her health she has lost a lot of weight.

[babe]

hey ho,

she will get fed up eventually. next time as soon as one goes broody and you dont want her to sit, aunty suggests dunking her bum in a bucket of cold water. to make her temp drop. but i think you need to do this early.

im qute happy if any of mine go broody, just get some fertile eggs and pop under..... any reason for more choks

[Fat Hen]

Thanks babe, no cockerel so eggs not viable.  Just worried about polly spending so much time in the hen house.   Is it normal for broody hens to be picked on by others :?:

[pushrod]

If she's been like this for two weeks i would just leave her to get over it. However, when my hens go broody (and i don't want them to) i immediately separate them and put them on just water for a day then meagre rations for a couple of days. I find by doing this they can be back in lay in a couple of weeks rather than 5, 6 or more if left to their own devices.

[pushrod]

when a broody comes off the nest to feed i have noticed that other hens will give her a hard time. It's as if they're saying "get back on the nest where you belong"  

[Fat Hen]

Cheers guys, i'll just leave her to it then, making sure she comes out daily to feed/drink.

[Bodger]

The problem is that some broodys will sit for weeks and weeks if you don't break them of their broodiness. I've had them sit for as long as five or six weeks. You need to make her as uncomfortable as possible, I stick mine in a bare coop without the creature comforts of any beding for a few days and this usually does the trick.

[Fat Hen]

thanks Bodger, you've given me an idea.  I have a pet carrier (not in a position to provide seperate hen house), maybe if i isolate her in the pet carrier for a few days that'll break her broodiness.