[fourmoon]

 :(Hi everyone,

I am new to chicken keeping I have had my three RIR for two months now.  I have had problems since the beginning.  First Agatha was feather pecking we have stopped that.  Then two chickens kept laying soft eggs this went on for three weeks and now laying normal now for two weeks.
Now last week our Tuppence who started laying first has gone broody.  She should only be about 30 weeks old.  Her feathers started falling out last Tuesday on her breast she only wants to sit in her nest.  But because the other two are laying she gets on their eggs.  I have only one coup so have started turfing her out and shutting the door after the other two have laid.  She eats rarely and drinks even less.

Help please is their someone who can give me some advice.

And oh next week I am supposed to be getting two more.

[bantam novice]

Well what you are describing is a hen that is well and truly broody.    They pluck out the feathers in their chest to warm the eggs better.

If you don't want her to sit on fertile eggs there are some anti-broody measures you can try.  One is to sit her in a mesh crate such as a dog crate.  Put it up on bricks so there is a flow of cool air, keep it out of the worst of the weather and put food and water in there for her.  You can either leave her there for a few days or take her out each night and place her on the perch in the coop.

I am not an expert and others with more experience may well chime in with some suggestions.  In the meantime good luck and keep us posted.

[shetan]

i know the experts will have better advice.

pets at home do a 'pod'. its for rabbits to sit on when it gets too hot in their hutch but i have tried it with my orpington and it worked. you'll need to wrap it in an old towel or t-shirt before putting it in the box and covering over with nesting material. you don't want to freeze your hen!

you put the pod in the freezer - its pink and durable. we've had ours for a couple of years. i put it in the boot, under a sheet when i drive anywhere with the dog in the back during summer.

when its frozen, wrap it up and pop it in the box. mine  took about 3/4 days. when her temperature cooled down she'd just get up and go to eat her pellets.

but i do need to add...that its been about 8 days now since she stopped being broody and i am yet to see an egg from her. everything else with her is fine though.

good luck with your girl.

[fourmoon]

Hi everyone,

Thanks for the advice, I will try the pod and see how I get on with it. She has started to eat a bit more, and is not so spaced out.  Although it does take a while to get her legs going again when I lift her up.

I will keep you posted.

fourmoon