[Walfre]

One of my 5 hens seems to want to stay on the nest for most of the day. She is laying 1 egg per day & coming out to drink & feed. Is this what is know as being broodie?. What do we do about it?. While she is in there the other hens are very reluctant to go in & lay. There are 2 nest boxes in the coop but they all lay in the one that Arwen has laid claim to. Have read somewhere that we should take her out of the coop & put her in something like a dog cage with no comfy area to sit in. Is this the best thing to do as it sounds rather mean.

[Hen 1-0 Fox]

Sounds like she's broody... i have my first broody hen... Just built her a broody cage and although it seems harsh I feel it's going to have to be a little cruel to be kind so she snaps out of it

[Walfre]

 thanks for that, we have put her in a dog cage inside the run. How long  before we can put her back in with the rest of the chooks?

[Sassy]

If she is well in on her broodiness 2 weeks to allow her hormones to get back to normal. If you have caught it early a few days. Best to do longer than you think or you will have to start again!

[Walfre]

Thanks for the help. Kept Arwen in a dog cage inside the run for 5 days. We had no probs with her mixing back in with the others. Within a few days she was laying again, very small eggs to start with but now every day & normal size.