Broody Bantam

[ontombose]

Evening Folks,

I noticed over the last couple of days that one of my Bantams (the laying one) has started to spend a to of time in the nesting box. I am normally out to work early and back late so during this weather do not see them out and about in the light.

I noticed that a couple of evenings she was in there but did not take too much notice to start with as she does lay all times of day and night, however the eggs stopped so I knew something was not quite right.

I have managed to stop her spending the night in the nesting box by placing small footballs in there and shut the chicken house today so she had to come out to play. I did see her eating and drinking so am not overly concerned at the moment unless somebody tells me otherwise.

Is there anything I can do to break the brood or should I just let her get on with it but continue shutting the house and placing footballs in the nesting box at night?

Thanks

 

[chrismahon]

Hi Ontombose. Bit early for her to be broody but that's what she is. I'd continue as you are but am not sure if shutting the coop is necessary, just blocking the nest boxes should do. Problem is when the others start to lay, they have nowhere to go and it becomes more of a problem, even if you are there all day. We had one broody for three months and even with two nest boxes for three hens it caused chaos as she occupied their favourite box. Hopefully she will forget the idea very quickly and then won't lay again for about two weeks after she has gone back to normal.

 

[Marigold]

As you imply that the other girls aren't laying, I think you are doing the right thing in shutting the coop during the day and blocking the nestboxes at night. Making her go out to get extra light during the day should help, as will taking away access to her comfortable nest place. As Chris says, you can't do this if anybody else is likely to need the nestboxes - it really depends on whether their combs are coming red and you think they may lay any day.
When this happens to my Marigold, I just fence off a corner of the run for her and let the others get on as usual. She can still see them and grumble through the mesh but not go in the coop. As so far she's only tried it on in the summer months, I leave her out in this corner of the run all night on her own, (very safe enclosed run) and the mild stress this induces usually does the trick.
I think you have to sit hard on attempts to go broody, especially at such an unsuitable time of year, unless you want to set some eggs, otherwise the hen gets so in the habit that her own health suffers, with no benefit to anyone.