Managing Broody Hens: A Guide to Handling Sullen and Egg-bound Chickens - Arthur Parkinson's Perspective
Managing Broodiness in Hens: Strategies for Encouraging Laying Over Sitting
Henkeepers frequently overlook the natural inclination of different breeds of hens to sit on a clutch of eggs, a behavior often referred to as 'broodiness'. Understanding this phenomenon and employing suitable measures can prevent hens from focusing on hatching eggs, allowing them to lay more consistently.
English author Beatrix Potter, in her tale of Jemima Puddle-Duck, humorously illustrated the challenges of broodiness when Jemima was displaced from caring for her own eggs by a more reliable hen. It is essential to note that ducks make poor sitters, while hens who exhibit good brooding abilities will sit steadfastly for an additional week to ensure a thriving brood, with hens requiring only 21 days and ducks requiring 28 days for eggs to hatch.
For henkeepers aiming to increase their flock by hatching chicks at home, a broody hen is the most organic, bio-secure, and effortless method, given that the pesky issue of surplus rooster offspring arises due to their inability to lay eggs. However, space-limited keepers yearning for hens to lay rather than sit on eggs can find broody hens a stubborn nuisance. This leads to the questions of what causes broodiness and how to prevent it.
Hens typically develop broody tendencies during the late spring and summer months when extended daylight prompts this response. Contrary to popular belief, a hen's broodiness is not influenced by the presence of a rooster. In the same way hens will lay eggs, they can become broody without a male counterpart.
A broody hen can be recognized by her unwillingness to leave the nesting box. She may gather all the eggs laid that day or, if particularly determined, she will sit idly on nothing, thereby warming the nesting box litter. She will also be alert to any interfering presence, puffing up her feathers and clucking disgruntledly.
Upon becoming broody, a hen will refrain from laying additional eggs as she believes she has already laid a clutch to sit on. However, since eggs gathered before her brooding decision are likely to have been collected, she will consider any subsequent eggs laid by her hens as her own, leading to annoyance when interrupted during her sitting period.
Hens display varying attitudes when they become broody, with some adopting a calm demeanor, whereas others transform into grumpy, pecking creatures. It is advisable to take precautions by wearing gardening gloves and a long-sleeved shirt or jumper to ward off potential pecking marks.
To discourage broodiness, it is crucial to collect eggs frequently from the nesting boxes, ideally multiple times a day, and remove them from the sight of the hens. Furthermore, managing the nesting boxes by blocking or reducing their appeal can help deter hens from becoming broody. Environmental adjustments, such as maintaining a well-lit and cooler temperature in the coop, can also discourage the nesting instinct. On the other hand, placing a broody hen in a broody cage or a separate area with wire mesh flooring can provide discomfort and lack of adequate nesting material, helping to break the broody cycle. Lastly, cooling measures, like the use of cold water bottles or ice packs around the broody cage, can enact an unwelcome sense of discomfort, making the hen uncomfortable enough to leave the nest.
Regular monitoring and prompt isolation of hens exhibiting signs of broodiness is crucial for effective broodiness management.
- Science can help us understand the factors that contribute to broodiness in hens, which is a part of the wider realm of health-and-wellness and animal behavior studies.
- Workplace-wellness programs could incorporate elements of family- and parenting advice to help employees better manage their responsibilities, including dealing with unpredictable events like broody hens at home.
- As for fitness-and-exercise, regular physical activity can also help in promoting better weight-management, which might indirectly impact the hormonal balance and reduce the chances of hens developing broodiness.
- For men's health, seeking professional therapies-and-treatments might help manage stress levels and promote mental well-being, potentially minimizing the onset of broodiness in hens.
- In terms of lifestyle, making modifications to our homes, like investing in home-and-garden improvements to create a brighter, cooler, and more secure coop, can discourage hens from becoming broody.
- CBD products have gained popularity for their potential benefits in relieving stress, anxiety, and pain in humans, but research is still needed to determine if they can have a similar effect on hens and help manage broodiness.
- Building strong relationships with our significant others and focusing on open communication can reduce stress levels, which might indirectly impact the occurrence of broodiness in hens.
- When traveling, packing gardening gloves and long-sleeved shirts could prove useful not only for protecting ourselves from potential pecking hens but also for handling various tasks in our homes, cars, and gardens.
