Broody hen

[Dashy]

I think one of my hens is broody. Can this be a brief phase? I can shoo her off the nest easily enough but she'll go straight back. This has been for 3 days. I'm worried as the temp is in the low to mid 30's for the next week that she may get very dehydrated! I can put her in another coop in the shade built for 4 to 6 bantams but she won't be able to free range. There'll be no breeze. Is it best to see how she is over the next couple of days or move her asap? The main problem is I'm at work so can't monitor her.

[MaureenHall]

I think I'd try and shut her outside during the day so she can't get to the nest box and continue the broodiness. If she is broody, she won't be laying eggs so there shouldn't be a problem. aren't they daft getting broody at this time of the year!!

[Dashy]

Thank you, I shall do that tomorrow. I have water outside the coop and shady small spots for safety from cats. I agree, not the sharpest tool in the shed!

[RichmondHens]

I have a broody too (in fact I have them most of the year round - keeping Sussex bantams there is always one or other broody even in the coldest weather!). She won't come to any harm being broody. You can shut her out, like Maureen says, but you could also just leave her be, just keeping taking any eggs away. She will get off when she needs to for eating/drinking/pooping and the phase should pass in about 3 - 4 weeks, if not sooner.

[Suechooks]

I'm guessing its a bit warmer in Melbourne than it is here folks!
I couldn't understand why Dashy was worried about dehydration if the temp was only 30! Then I realised that it's summer in Australia! (I still work in Fahrenheit too!!!)

[MaureenHall]

Whoops!!! silly me didn't read the location! Right then, if you want some little chicks, get her some fertile eggs and let her do the work for you

[frias]

Ive also got a broody at the moment. I've sinned binned her severel times but even if it works it only does for about a week then she goes broody again. It's pretty cold here so you would think she wouldn't need cooling off. I'm just turfing mine off the nest at every opportunity and making sure she gets enough to eat and drink.

[Dashy]

Yes sorry all - wrong continent. I didn't realise when I first joined and then I liked this forum too much to look closer to home. Audrey came out of her coop more easily today so I'm hoping she has a short attention span. I'd say the eggs will be hard boiled anyway by the time I get to them! Also one thing is she was staying in the nesting box even when I had taken the eggs away.

[RichmondHens]

She will. They will sit on nothing if the urge to brood is strong enough. Don't worry about her. I'm sure she will be fine, even in the hot weather. Just make sure she has access to water during daylight hours.

[Dashy]

You were all right. She was on the nest when I got home but there's no change to her appearance so I'm guessing she's drinking when necessary. Thanks!

[CoraxAurata]

Yes sorry all - wrong continent. I didn't realise when I first joined and then I liked this forum too much to look closer to home.

LOL - I think thats brilliant!

So what breeds/types of chookies do you have?

[Dashy]

So sorry CoraxAurata. I have 4 lovely little chooks - nothing spesh to look at but beautiful personalities. There's 2 Old English game bantams and 2 Modern game bantams. They all get along so well and I sit with them in their run with a glass of wine and they just run around me making little bok sounds. What do you have?

[Dashy]

Now it's 3 broody hens out of only 4. And my little angels are now pecking at me when I go near them. Looks like it's just toast for the next few weeks.

[frias]

Now it's 3 broody hens out of only 4. And my little angels are now pecking at me when I go near them. Looks like it's just toast for the next few weeks.

Oh no, at least my broody has given up as it's so wet and cold here. Not sure how long it will be before she starts to lay again. Let's hope your number 4 doesn't join in.

[RichmondHens]

You should see my lot in the summer. All the bantams spend pretty much the whole spring and summer going broody. They have a long communal nestbox and the layers have to climb in over the broodies to lay. They then leave, and the broodies all shuffle around together to see who can sit on the most eggs. Then I go and remove them all and spoil their fun! The lucky ones (or in my view the most experienced) get whipped away to a coop of their own to do proper brooding.