[welshthistle]

 I have 3 chickens an orpington,cochin and cochin cross.Had them beginning of january my orpington rosie started laying within 5days and iv had an egg a day since then.honey my cochin has been laying every other day for a month now and wilmar nothing yet.iv had 3 eggs one day and 4 eggs once.the last 2weeks iv only had 3 eggs could this be due to the weather change as its been alot colder again? honey has gone very broody spends alot of her time in the nesting box,i remove the egg and take her out otherwise i think she would stay there.she will eat then go back in what should i do?  could this be putting the other girls off as shes always in there.Rosie seems to be the top hen in the pecking order.
they all seem very happy and untill a week ago all three spent most of there time free range round the garden.rosie and wilmar are still out and about but honey stays in the nest box.
i would be greatful for any help and advice,many thanks

[ehs284]

Don't panic. It's a common problem. You need to separate the broody one. Keep her on her own for a few days - after the first day and night, let her out in the morning and if she goes back to the nest box then isolate her again until she gets the hint. This is the easiest and safest way at this time of year. In summer you can dunk them in cold water - it sometimes (not always) works quickly, but not now.
Don't worry about the number of eggs laid so long as they are happy and healthy. Having a broody in the nestbox will make them lay elsewhere and this can be a problem.

[bantam novice]

Hello Welshthistle,

I am not that experienced however, as I understand it, broody hens stop laying and can put other hens in the flock off laying.  She may well start plucking out her own chest feathers as this helps to keep the eggs warm

Your options are:

1 Trying anti-broody measures (you can type broody hen in the search box in the top right hand corner and you will find plenty of info and suggestions)
broody cage with wire mesh on the bottom so her underneath feels cold
sitting hen in cold water
keep lifting her off the nest
(these are only some of the suggestions)

2 Let her sit on fertile eggs and hatch them

Someone with more experience will be along to give advice.  In the meantime Good Luck!  

[jinty1911]

Think it's still too cold for a broody cage.  Just keep taking her out of nest box every time you notice that she is in there.  It doesn't work with mine but at least she thinks you are trying    My 3 have taken turns at laying and being broody since last October.  I decided a few weeks ago that I might (just might, sorry Joyful) hatch a few eggs under 1 of them and they have suddenly decided that they don't like broody anymore. 

[Vecten]

The object is to make it as uncomfortable as you can for her to be in a broody state.

The ideal is to make a cage with a wire mesh bottom which would make her underparts cold although this isn't always possible or practical for the average hen keeper.

You could try forcing her out of the nest box by blocking it off after use, in fact this is imperative, she should be kept out of the nest box altogether. Keep her cool, damp down her legs if you can with a hose, try not to get her feathers too wet though. try to keep her occupied with treats or toys

[8doubles]

If they have been free ranging check under low shrubs and in other hen sized nooks and crannies, the others may have layed away from the stroppy broody.

[welshthistle]

thank you for your advice will see how they go after trying your suggestions

[joyfull]

Jinty  just remember cockerels - they will all be cockerels!! 

I agree check everywhere for eggs being laid - In the past couple of weeks I have found 34 hidden eggs in 2 hiding places and am sure there are more lurking elsewhere 

[cluckingnuts]

I thought people kept chickens to give them a better quality of life. Advocating freezing the behind of a hen just because she is following her instincts is wrong. Jump into a time machine and fast forward to the 21st century, there are breeds that do not go broody if egg production is the main concern.

[Lindeggs]

cluckingnuts, I don't think anyone is advocating freezing your chicken's behind.  People have pointed out that it's still too cold to try the cold water trick, or even the suspended cage.  You would only do those things in warm weather.

Meanwhile the 21st century hens that "don't go broody" are a modern hybrid, designed to start laying early, lay all their eggs as fast as they can, and die relatively young compared to the heritage-breed hens.  I don't see how that is an improvement in quality of life?

[cluckingnuts]

Plenty of traditional non broody breeds, most of which I have kept over the past nearly 50 years.
Instead of fighting nature work with it. Bang some fertile eggs under her, then the young can be kept/sold/eaten, she would have earned her keep.

[witchontheswitch]

I had a broody silverlink hen who sat for weeks and weeks. I tried everything to no avail. But, then we had to move all the chooks to a new house (an old stable) and she just went straight back to normal and is now in such super condition and laying every day.
So, my suggestion (although not practical) is to move her - or as previous person says, isolate her.  Good luck!!