Clucky Chooky

We've just encountered our first 'clucky chook' ... rather a surprise considering this hen is barely 5 months old! She had been on the nest with her feathers puffed out, looking very cosy for a couple of days. Our nest box is a rollaway type, so she isn't even sitting on eggs!

A few growls and shrieks when we went near her was the other indicator she was nesting on her non-existent eggs. So we don't have a rooster (to fertilise the eggs) and rely on them for eggs (they stop laying when clucky), so obviously this situation is not good. 

Before we had a chance to google more info, I happened to see the kids hairdresser, Judy, who had  experience with 'clucky chooks'. Seems their body temp needs cooling (gives another meaning to animals going on 'heat') and the best way to do this is firstly remove them from the nesting area; preferably in a cage; raised off the ground to get the air-flow under their broody body. They also need to be made 'uncomfortable' - no where to lay as such.

One google site also said that with some hens, all they need is a few times of being physically removed from the nest and carried out to the yard where their flockmates are ranging - that seems like the 'softly softly' way.

Opting for the cage approach, fully stocked on food and water we will let her out in a few days and see if the 'broody buster' cage works.

Side view - she is not looking to amused by the whole situation!

Top view, old saucepan for water works well - secure and full