Broody Silkie

[Anonymous]

Hi Everyone.

I posted a while back about my silkies Tikka & Masala.

My little Silkie cross (Tikka) started laying eggs early December and has laid one nearly ever day since

I have always made sure the egg is removed either first thing in the morning or when I got home from work. She would settle in one of her nest boxes, lay an egg, get up and enjoy her day, well that was until she got broody about 4 days ago.

She is all fluffed up and will sit all day in her day nest box or the night nest box even though she is not sitting on any eggs. I have to phyiscally pick her up to make sure she goes of and eats and drinks.

How can I break this broody cycle? I can't seperate her from Masala as he gets upset, he is not the bravest of Roosters on his own.

I would like her to become a mum, but not just yet, we are rescueing 4 Barn hens 08 at the end of this month so he will then have other hens to boss around.

In the mean time, do I just leave her to get over her broodiness?

Thanks
Jon

 

[Anonymous]

Silkies are known for their broodiness as are Pekins which I keep (I have one broody at the moment). You are doing the right thing by removing the eggs. The only way to break the cycle is to prevent the
hen making herself comfortable and generating heat. But, easier said than done.......... In the good weather I lock them out of the henhouse but even then they sometimes find somewhere to sit :roll: At the moment I am just leaving mine to it, eventually they give up of their own accord.(unless they are especially determined :lol: )