My Australorp , Helen , is a tough broody to break through . Despite her sacrifices to keep the flock ’s unfertilized eggs strong — forgoing food , water , physical exertion , junk bathe — the stubborn old hen wo n’t agitate .
Because we ’re draw near the conclusion of prime hatch season , I ’m willing to bet that many of you are dealing with abroody henor two , as well . Or , perchance you have a hen you ’re worried about because she ’s your first broody . A ruminative biddy is one who ride on her eggs to concoct baby chick . A reader publish :
One of my immature Gallus gallus does n’t seem to be eating or drink . I think she was just sitting on eggs as she was loth to get off them , but I ’m a number concerned about her . Any trace before I make a trip-up to the vet ?
This is the behavior of a broody fryer or biddy . She ’s not pallid ; she ’s just biologically programme with a strong maternal instinct , so no veterinary action is call for .
It assume 21 day of sitting on fertilized ball for a hen to hatch her chicks , but even in the absence seizure of a rooster , some hens have a stronger inherent aptitude to sit down than others .
Sometimes , a broody will be finish sit on unfertilized eggs after 10 days to two workweek . For the most part , they recognize how long they ’re reckon to sit around , so they very well might not shift for three hebdomad . As volaille keepers , we ca n’t always argue with Mother Nature , meaning that the conjuration to break a broody might not always bring . When you know you ’re not brood chicks , broodiness can be troubling , because they reject to manage for themselves to ensure the survival of hypothetical babies .
ordinarily , off the testis from thenest boxon a very regular basis , twice a day for object lesson , will help break the broodiness . This summertime , Helen remains in the nest often warming only her feet beneath her . As the other hens and the pullet come into the henhouse to lay their egg when nature calls , they often fight Helen for some nesting space . Helen amount fly down the run , darting out of the run , flying across the yard , and then she re - fuck up her feathers and cluck her broody , annoyed cluck until she ’s grant back into the henhouse .
Every daylight I would open up the coop , softly remove Helen , and locate her in the weed . Sometimes , she ’d sit around there . Sometimes , she ’d run in zigzags and roll her annexe . Sometimes , she ’d go right back into the henhouse . Many times , she would return without eating or drinking . A few day ago , I opened the coop and saw that her comb was looking a mo gray . Then , I worry .
alternatively of putting Helen in the grass to see her manner of walking the right way back in , I locked her out of the coop for the afternoon . I force her tofree rangewith the others with feed and fresh water usable but without memory access to the coop . This finally broke her of the utmost sitting . Today , Helen ’s still brooding , but she cares for herself when I move out her from the next box seat . She ’s finally pose on some weight and her comb looks good for you .
Now , my Easter Egger pullet is broody for the first time , and she sits in the other nest box . But she ’s still young and mostly undedicated . I do n’t have to worry about her just yet .
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