Too many things happening at once...please advise

[Mjvargas]

Hello, we have 7 chickens that are about 6 months old. In spite of the fact that we got them, without any real knowledge, they have been doing great. They have been laying eggs for about 2 months now, we have been getting about 5 a day on average. The first thing that happened is that one of our chickens is broody. She has been like that for about 4 days now. We don't have roosters so this poor chick is wasting all her energy. I read in this site the it is good to snap it out of her. Yesterday we took her out of the nesting box and put her under the coop, where she stayed all day long, we gave her water and food, which she ate. As soon as we let her out she went straight to the nesting box. Today, I got a dog crate and put her there in the coop. Hopefully this helps. If a chicken gets broody will that affect the others chicken?
But then yesterday, we got only 4 eggs. I didn't pay much attention to it, but today we got only 3. On top of that, one of the hens laid her egg in the goat house. I am confused why she would do that or why they are decreasing the amount of eggs. Can they molt this early? I've seen a few feathers, but I am not sure that can be called molting. Can you help me understand this?

 

[Folly's place]

Welcome! It's getting dark earlier, and chickens need fourteen to sixteen hours of light daily to lay eggs well, if at all. Consider having a light out there (40w will do) on a timer from 3am or 4am to 8am every morning, from now until later in spring. It makes a difference.
Molting might be part of the story, although your pullets are young for that to be an issue.
Any stress can slow egg production, and that can include changes in flock dynamics, as having an upset pullet in a cage.
Mary

 

[DesertBird]

Personally, I don't think it's necessary to break them of broodiness unless you see it causing a health issue (like major weight loss, dehydration, etc.) because broodiness is a natural part of chicken life and lets their reproductive system have a bit of a break. Just make sure to take eggs out from under her and pick her out of the box a few times a day to go get some water and food and she'll break herself out of it.

 

[Mjvargas]

Welcome! It's getting dark earlier, and chickens need fourteen to sixteen hours of light daily to lay eggs well, if at all. Consider having a light out there (40w will do) on a timer from 3am or 4am to 8am every morning, from now until later in spring. It makes a difference.
Molting might be part of the story, although your pullets are young for that to be an issue.
Any stress can slow egg production, and that can include changes in flock dynamics, as having an upset pullet in a cage.
Mary

Personally, I don't think it's necessary to break them of broodiness unless you see it causing a health issue (like major weight loss, dehydration, etc.) because broodiness is a natural part of chicken life and lets their reproductive system have a bit of a break. Just make sure to take eggs out from under her and pick her out of the box a few times a day to go get some water and food and she'll break herself out of it.

Well, I am glad I asked! I didn't like the idea of keeping her in a cage. Thank you!

 

[DesertBird]

Well, I am glad I asked! I didn't like the idea of keeping her in a cage. Thank you!

No problem! She'll be perfectly okay sitting on her eggs, as long as you're able to make sure she's getting some water and food daily. If she's not broken herself of it in a bit or you're getting concerned, I usually tend to force the broody one out and block up the nesting boxes (after the others are done laying for the day) and take her out with the others. They'll fuss a bit but some bugs or treats will make them realize being outside isn't so bad. lol

 

[aart]

I don't think it's necessary to break them of broodiness unless you see it causing a health issue

I'd rather break them right away, why wait until it becomes a health issue?
It can take longer to break them after they've been setting for days on end.
It's not about 'taking a break', especially that young, it's about hormones compelling her to set.

If a chicken gets broody will that affect the others chicken?

It can...any change can throw them off.
Depending on how big your coop is and how much space the breaker crate is taking up, they may behave just decided the goat barn is a better place to lay....course they might have done that regardless of the broody...the others may be laying elsewhere too, one of the downfalls to free ranging.

 

[Shadrach]

I've found that just removing the eggs and taking the hen off the nest for a while often stops them brooding. They tend to go and sit on the empty nest for a while,maybe even for a day or so. Eventually most give up.
I agree with @aart, if you don't want the hen to sit then stopping the behaviour as quickly as possible is better for the hens health in the long run.
If after a day she still tries to sit then other methods can be used.
You may find the once the broody has given up sitting the normal egg laying routines of the others may return.