beach chick Posted June 4, 2008 Share Posted June 4, 2008 morning all... Char is driving me to distraction!! she has been broody for a good 2 weeks, and every time I think she's stopped and let her out of the coop she goes straight back into the eglu with a sigh of relief. as she obviously wants to sit in there, I'm thinking about trying icepacks - but do I have to wrap them in something? what about freezer burn, she's plucked her tummy feathers out? or is this just a silly question? would a plastic bag of icecubes work as well/instead (our fridge has got an icemaker and I'm not sure I fancy the freezer packs in a picnic after Char's sat on them!!) we've only got Paris laying at the moment, and Char has managed to break her egg this morning, I cant resort to buying them again!! thanks in advance Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tessa the Duchess Posted June 4, 2008 Share Posted June 4, 2008 I used one of those freezer bags with a zip. Half filled it with water and put it in the freezer until it was solid. Wrapped it up in a thin tea towel to protect her bum. Didn't work though Tessa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beach chick Posted June 4, 2008 Author Share Posted June 4, 2008 ah, I was hoping to hear it was a great success!!! but zip pack is a good idea - thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChrisP Posted June 4, 2008 Share Posted June 4, 2008 Hi Beach Chick. Have you tried placing the broody hen in some cool water - not cold but not warm! - as this can sometimes help them cool their body temperature? An alternative, which i tried on mine was to get a large plant pot and fill it with hay so that it mimiked (sp) the egg port in the eglu and placed it in the garden and put her on it. that way, although she was still broody and brooding on the hay, she was outside and getting some air, and saw the other girls having dustbathes and scratching for worms - she soon gave up the idea of being broody and went to join in!! However this approach did not work staright away, it took a lot of going out to collect her and place her on the new 'brooding pot', by the end she looked like a chicken you would buy from a supermarket - no feathers at all, thin. but it you keep going it should hopefully work for you, luckily it worked for us just before the cold weather kicked in last year, else i dont think she would have made it Keep trying whatever you are doing, and dont give up on them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HENthusiastic Posted June 4, 2008 Share Posted June 4, 2008 HI. Henrietta was broody for about 5 weeks in total. She spent about a week thawing out, warming up and trying to hatch ice packs! Didn't make a blind bit of difference to her. I wrapped them in tea towels to prevent frost bite. I also tried dunking about 3 times a day (I was a bit soft though and only did it for one day!!) In the end I just resorted to making nice treats to tempt her to eat (with poultry spice in), and chucking her off the nest when ever I could, evenings and weekends. I tempted her with porrige, poultry spice and honey. Yum. Good luck what ever you choose to do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beach chick Posted June 4, 2008 Author Share Posted June 4, 2008 tried dunking last year with no success. and presence of large bouncy Labrador makes it even less appealing this year!! I guess I'll just have to harden my heart and make her stay in the broody cage for 3 days and nights, as suggested by Claret, and see if that does it. should I let her out to eat at all? (she's got water in there of course). I could close the nest box I guess... oh it's so difficult to know what to do for the best!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moochoo Posted June 4, 2008 Share Posted June 4, 2008 I would definitely opt for the broody cage, you can leave both food and water for her. You have to be persistant and don't take her out. My broody was let out this morning after taking 5 days and nights to break her broodiness. At least it's over for a little while longer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beach chick Posted June 4, 2008 Author Share Posted June 4, 2008 well I caved in - shut the eglu and let her out. she is now having a dustbath... if she's still trying tomorrow morning, that's it - Alcatraz for her!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Treekeeper Posted June 4, 2008 Share Posted June 4, 2008 Broody cage definitely had my bantam in one tied to the tree in the run kept her in for about 5 days and nights and it worked a treat she is back to normal. Tried all the dunking, freezing, plantpot in nest that didn't work 'cos the B;lack Rocks just picked it up and turfed it out go the cage route and don't listen to any comments like oh she looks like a battery hen in that cage! Thanks OH for making me feel great Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
surferdog Posted June 4, 2008 Share Posted June 4, 2008 Ice packs wrapped in a tea towel worked for Sylvie (I've lost count of the number of kitchen utensils and items that have now been requisitioned for chickens and can no longer be used in the kitchen ) Took a few days and she wasn't the most determined broody in any case. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted June 4, 2008 Share Posted June 4, 2008 Re the ice packs....I used them successfully last year, I wrapped them in an ols towel, and buried them in the Aubiose. No freezer burn. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
