[markt]

I only have 3 chickens but two of them have gone broody, a maran and a peking. I have tried placing them into a box and covering it for 24 hours to put them in complete darkness , (apparently they are supposed to forget) this did work for the peking and she was ok for a while. However, she has gone broody again. The Maran has been broody for the best part of three months!! I have tried her in the darkness box and also a full wired cage (another piece of advice) but nothing has worked. One of our friends said 'Leave her' and she will get bored, but that doesn't seem to be the case. Any advice please!!!!

[Yorkie]

Welcome to the forums Markt 

I'll move your post over to Hen House, but feel free to pop back into the Welcome forums to introduce yourself (and the chooks) 

[Vember]

Hi Markt

Wow 3 months  Only other thing I have heard can stop a hen being broody is to pop her rear and tummy into some very cold water  Don't think I'd ever actually go that far myself

I have had a Barnevelder that seems to have been broody all of the last two months apart from a short spell she is now moulting and is having a very harsh moult (she looks oven ready  )

If it were me I would leave her she'll be off soon now it's getting darker

Just make sure she has no creepy crawlies on her and get her off at least twice a day for food, water and t'other

Welcome to the Hen House by the way


Sarah

[poppies]

Hi we have  had a hybrid like that she just sat and sat wouldnt come out for food we had to lift her out, we put her on her own with some eggs but she seemed to panic and would'nt settle so put her back and she still carried on, in the end we were told to pop her in some cold water -  did'nt like doing it, and had to do it twice  but this morning she came out on her own for food, and has'nt been in the house today,  it might have been coincidence but sometimes you have to be cruel to be kind

[markt]

Thanks Sara,
At this moment in time I'm nearly at the point where I will try anything!! I guess with the nights drawing in perhaps I could leave her. She is basically bald underneath.
We are fairly new to the chicken keeping scene. Having read some of the pother posts, I'm not sure we are feeding ours correctly. I have mixed corn in a feeder permanently with layer pellets put out in a bowl everyday and occasionally some sunflower seeds as a treat. We also boil up any leftover veg from teatime now and again. Would you say thats ok?

[markt]

Hi Poppies,
It seems the cold water treatment seems the way forward.
I'll try her in the morning!
Thanks very much

[Vember]

I'd get rid of the corn Markt, leave pellets down for them all day and give a small handful of corn in the evening as a treat

If possible knock all treats on the head for a week or two and see if this improves things


Also make sure they have a dish of oyster shell & grit down at all times


Sarah