broody or egg bound??

[msflocks]

sorry if it's a repeat , but here goes:

I have two pekin bantams, who were one year old on easter monday.

They started laying one week before their bday and we've had two eggs a day for the ten days or so.
until two days ago that is.

sharpay - the black one hardly been out of the house and no eggs for two days.

Very grumpy when I go near her. puffed herself up and stance is low down.

So I locked them out the house yesterday tea time (she squawked for ages by the door). and out all day today. no eggs anywhere in the garden so pretty sure she still hasnt laid.

Is she egg bound or just broody and am I doing the right thing by shutting them out???

cheers, Zoe

[di]

She sounds pretty broody to me
When you take her off her nest does she wander around almost manically clucking really loudly?

I've never had an egg bound chook,but I think they become more hunched up and lethergic?

[RichmondHens]

Yep, sounds broody to me too! Either go with it and let her sit where she wants, just take the eggs away from her, or if you are desperate for her to keep laying, you can sin bin her (wire bottomed cage 24/7 for a few days). Or, as I'm sure plenty will suggest to you, you can let her sit and incubate some, if your eggs are fertile.

If you let nature take its course, either with or without eggs she will be back to normal in 4 weeks or so.

[msflocks]

ok guys, so no running around clucking, and no eggs left.... we've been waiting a year for eggs and we've been eating them!!!
they're not fertile as I just have the two girls in the back garden. (trying to get hubby to allow more!)
watched her out the window and she's going about as normal, but when I opent he back door and go say hello, she puffs up again and shouts at me!

seems as tho neither of them are laying now!

sin bin sounds good, can I use the run for this? as I dont have a cage?

thanks for quick replies
Zoe

[sheena]

Oh go on msflocks, you know you want to get them to sit really

[msflocks]

I'd have to buy fertile ones I suppose......

hmmmmmm.

hubby wont even let me have two more pols let alone chicks!!!

one day.... one day........

[RichmondHens]

When a hen is broody her body temperature rises a little. You need to cool her off. No grain, no treats. Layers pellet only. She needs to be off the ground in a wire bottomed cage so the air circulates underneath and cools her down. It will also be uncomfortable for her to sit.

I never bother sin binning mine as I have no shortage of eggs, but my father, who was very strict with his girls, had a large cage suspended inside a shed which would take several hens at a time if need be. You could use any sort of strong box big enough to contain her and let her move around a bit, but the bottom must be wired. An old rabbit hutch with the floor replaced with chicken wire would be fine. Where you place it is up to you but she must be safe. Put food and water containers inside cage and leave her be. She should get fed up after a few days. If she goes back to being broody once released, put her back in the sin bin.

Have to say, not all hens will respond to this treatment. Some just have to go through the process of incubation. Then I'm afraid you will just have to be patient and wait for her to get over it. Either that or swop them for a breed that doesn't go broody!!

[Bramble-Poultry]

yet again i feel richmond and i have a common thread here, please dont sit her on eggs "just because you feel sorry for her" as you know that at least 50% will be cockerels and what are you going to do with those? think before you hatch

I live in fear of a few weeks time when everyone has started hatching and start to ring me up to take in cockerels...... with just a bit of fore thought you could stop her by sin binning, or if you really really want to hatch eggs, get some autosexing eggs and either cull the male chicks when they hatch (feed to ferret or lizard as they really relish them) or alternativly rear the males seperately and then kill them at 12-15 and freeze them. they may not be too big, but a couple will provide a meal and they wont be crowing.

Its the sad and unforeseen side of hatching cute little fluffy chicks.

[Hilary B]

And if anyone is within reasonable distance of where I live, and finds themselves rearing cockerels, I'll come and 'recycle' them into dinner for 50%. Realistic distancce depends on number available!

[msflocks]

thanks everyone. I really dont think I'm ready for chicks in the garden. the seagulls on our roof are making enough racket and would worry that they'll come pick them up too. Nevermind the cockerels I'd have to "deal with". She's still at it, so will try and borrow a cat cage or something with wire bottom.

[elizajay]

I've got a broody hen too and even if I don't let them sit they go on for far longer than 4 weeks. I am thinking about sin binning mine as no room for more. When I toss her off the nest she charges around with wings raised and feathers fluffed up and shouts.
I am keeping myself from temptation by watching blue t*t on a camera nest box. She laid 8 eggs and started sitting on Sunday. Very exciting to watch. The male brings her loads of baby caterpillers and she regularly turns the eggs.

[lostincybersace]

And if anyone is within reasonable distance of where I live, and finds themselves rearing cockerels, I'll come and 'recycle' them into dinner for 50%. Realistic distancce depends on number available!

I'm moving to Wiltshire in July, and have two boy chicks this year. I really hate dispatching, so if you are near me perhaps this would work for us?

[Hilary B]

I'm moving to Wiltshire in July, and have two boy chicks this year. I really hate dispatching, so if you are near me perhaps this would work for us?

Could be!
PM town (when you know).