[Happy-Hound]

Hi can someone tell me if this sounds like a broody hen?  One of my hens seemed to be in bed a fair while before the others a couple of nights ago.  I thought she was ill but the following morning she was fine and came out of the hen house.  My daughter said she was already in bed last night too before the others and we thought she was unwell again but this morning she came out when I opened the door.  However, I went out to see what they were up to a while later and she had gone back in the nest box.  I've just been out again and she was still there.  I have just hoofed her off some eggs that were in there and got her out in the run and shut the door so that she can't get back in but she isn't happy and the first thing she did was try & get back in.  I don't have anywhere else to keep her except with the other 2 so should I just get her out in the morning and shut the nest box up for the day?  Thanks, Wendy.

[Casey76]

Yep, broody

Just keep turfing her out of the coop for the time being, sometimes this is all that is needed - especially if the breed/hybrid isn't prone to broodiness

[Happy-Hound]

Thanks I will do.  She's some sort of cross I think but definitely part Polish.  She's not happy with me she's grumbling!

[LittleRedHen]

Yes,if she is cranky when you take her off the nest, she's probably broody.

[terri]

me too

[stef Batterbee]

yep you have a broody girl, all you can do is keep turfing her out and ignore the dirty looks and indignant squarks! Good luck and hopefully it wont last long but be prepared for it going on for a couple of weeks...

[andymac]

Yes, broody. I had a girl like this, I did what it said in one of my books and made a small cage with mesh on the bottom and just water and mixed corn to eat. Apparently the thing to do is cool their tummy down and it breaks the broody cycle. worked a treat for my girl, although it took about 5 days of 'solitary' to do it. just make sure that no preditors can get at her through the mesh.