Gone on stike?

[margaretinireland]

Hi there - I have one hen Liz which, since last Thursday, has stopped laying and stays in the coop. I get her out twice a day, she does a poo, scratches and eats then its back in the coop. Now Jane has joined her and no eggs today, they both seem quite happy and sit clucking to each other. (Mind you, gale force winds yesterday and chucking rain today, enough to put any bird off wandering the garden) Jane recently had chicks and I wondered if hens can go broody a second time and do hens have phantom broodiness? Henry the Cock has been left to look after the teenagers and is quite miffed! Any ideas please.

 

[VALBURNHAM]

Oh yes they most certainly can go broody again. I have one hen who hatches chicks at around six weeks gets fed up of them and goes back with the gang she then lays for about three weeks and goes broody again frustrating or what

 

[chrismahon]

Our TNN's went broody and after three weeks stopped and two weeks later were broody again and hadn't laid any eggs inbetween time Margaret. Some breeds are prone to it and they are one of them. Think Silkies are another?

 

[margaretinireland]

Thank you both - I was 75% sure they had gone broody, however that is the beauty of this forum, chatting to those who have been there, done it and got the tea shirt sure helps! This morning I got the girls out and have cleared out all the bedding from the coop (chance to give it a good scrub) and have shut the door. Both Hens regularly go down to check it out with Henry, who is a happy lad now he has his girls back. Will let them all back in at tea time.

 

[Marigold]

Block the nestboxes overnight or they'll be in there again, nice and hot and cosy! I use big plastic flowerpots.

 

[margaretinireland]

Thank you Marigold - they haven't got nest boxes -YET - they lay on the bedding! I have a man building a shed for them, the coop they have is an A frame and I find it difficult to get in and clean - so spoilt or what, a new home is on its way any day now. Then of course I will have to get a couple of point of lay won't I??? Both the girls are still trying to get back in the coop after three days of being shut out all day, I take pity on them and let them back in just before their tea and bedding down for the night.