Poorly hen help please

needmoney

God I've done it again pressed the thanks by mistake, sorry BS I was just reading the thread and being nosey.:eek:

leonie_2

Queenie, thanks for taking the time to write all that, its appreciated :-)

An update. I got her out of the coop and gave her food which she took happily, then went off with her friends. She looked fine but kept trying to get back in the cage. So my cunning plan. I locked her out and she was fine, walking around, digging and eating. But as soon as I opened the door again, she ran straight in and laid out doing the big feather thing... so I think she could be broody!

I havent had a soft egg in days, but im only getting two eggs and I usually get three so it looks like she has stopped laying.

Well at least she seems ok now. I'm just going to keep locking her out of the coop until she gives in and plays nicely again!

PS lol at needmoney :rotfl:

looneyleo

Hi, we have 12 chickens and my mother had 100's of fouls in her life-time.

Sounds like your chuck is definately broody. Only way to get her out of it quickly is to put her in a cat basket/very secure box and place her outside of the coup over night. Somewhere reasonably sheltered and away from foxes but not out of the cold. The cold will snap her out of it quick sharp and saves you having to run down to the coup to let the other chucks in and out to lay for days. Tried and tested method and chicken comes to no harm - you can give her a cuddle in the morning!

To cure soft eggs - just need some grit. Ours are free-range but still require grit.

best of luck - looneyleo

leonie_2

Oh my giddy aunts I darent do that, she'd cry her eyes out! Its big Dave, my fave hen. Such a character!

No, it sounds a good idea actually but we have roaming foxes and i've got the coop looking like something from Alcatraz and I dont think I have anywhere as secure as that. Unless I put her in a box in the greenhouse or something overnight.

I didnt think battery type hens got broody, I thought that was bred out of them. that is until now as im sure thats what her problem is.

I'm going to go back to the poultry shop for some grit/shell stuff. Even though they said they didnt need it, its obvious they do

looneyleo

Hi Leonie,

It only has to be somewhere cold, away from the comfort of the coup and usually one night does the trick. Believe me, it works and she will come to no harm at all...best to get it sorted as they do get very miserable when they are broody and it can go on for weeks. Alternatively, if you just can't do it, you will have to be persistent about turfing her off the nest. The only problem I found with this is that she will create another nest somewhere else and then just be broody on that one too!

Good luck - looneyleo

leonie_2

Hmmm I wondered about that actually. Its only a matter of time before she slopes off and makes another nest, and in the meantime i've got to make sure im not locking out one of the other girls who wants to lay.

I may try and do it tonight. Its not as if its January out there is it!

Thanks again

looneyleo

Leonie - reality check seems to have occured - she's a chicken! A much loved chicken yes - but still a chicken! She's very lucky to have a nice coup...and a lovely mummy (!) - all the other birds in the world have to rough it!

give it a try! - As I said, you can give her a cuddle in the morning! They have short memories and she won't hold it against you I promise!

Looneyleo