Phosphorus Posted September 10, 2008 Share Posted September 10, 2008 Having lifted them off everyone's eggs at least four times a day so far and blocking nest box at night - I am now resorting to ice packs under an old tea towel. Wish me luck folks - need to break this broody pair, they are out free ranging at the moment but boy are they going to get a shock when they go back to the nest box Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Purplemaniacs Posted September 10, 2008 Share Posted September 10, 2008 We have one who is semi broody, still laying but sits on everyone's eggs and has to be taken off of the eggs. I put ice blocks in every so often when she seems more broody. It does not seem to bother the others, one has even laid an egg on the ice packs If she stops laying I will have to put her in the broody crate again. Chrissie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted September 10, 2008 Share Posted September 10, 2008 ice packs didnt work for me, I hope they do for you! After 6 months of broody hens I was really hoping it was the end of "broody season" until I read your thread! (that means theres still time for my 2 cochins) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phosphorus Posted September 10, 2008 Author Share Posted September 10, 2008 So far so good - the ice packs have pretty much kept Roast out of the Cube and the nesting box for the afternoon Gemma insisted on staying in the Cube main part but left the nesting box alone. Have now taken the ice packs out and just blocked it for the night - hopefully they will soon get the message. Haven't reached the broody cage stage yet - but I know where to get one Oh and neither of them are laying now Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Helen&Lee Posted September 10, 2008 Share Posted September 10, 2008 After 6 months of broody hens I was really hoping it was the end of "broody season" until I read your thread! (that means theres still time for my 2 cochins) Definately still time Chelsea, mine are still going strong although down to 1 broody now! I did think last week when Attilla finally emerged that it might be the end of all things broody for the year - 36hrs later I found Doris loitering around the nesting box. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted September 11, 2008 Share Posted September 11, 2008 After 6 months of broody hens I was really hoping it was the end of "broody season" until I read your thread! (that means theres still time for my 2 cochins) Definately still time Chelsea, mine are still going strong although down to 1 broody now! I did think last week when Attilla finally emerged that it might be the end of all things broody for the year - 36hrs later I found Doris loitering around the nesting box. oh no! It cant be true ! I can imagine your face when you saw Doris loitering.... Its not funny really is it?! We go on holiday in 2 weeks time so I hope we can stay broody free as my sister wont be able to cope Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phosphorus Posted September 11, 2008 Author Share Posted September 11, 2008 I think I have just given up. Have left the terrible two in the nesting box and given them a wooden egg (my dad made some years ago). I wonder if they will take it as the real thing - don't think so given the look they gave me when I put it in. Can't cope with all this guilt trip and it doesn't matter two much if I only have 5 out of the 7 laying...... What a cop out. Will just keep taking the real eggs out and put broody twosome in the run a few times a day Going away for a few days on Saturday and don't think DH will really get up at 6am to unblock the nesting box for my two early layers and put in ice packs each day once everyone has laid! 21 days hopefully (less however many we have done already, 5 or so I think) to go Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yolky Posted September 11, 2008 Share Posted September 11, 2008 My broody is unbroody today YAY but it has made me realise that one nest box is not enough. If I had had 2 boxes then it wouldn't have bothered me so much as I wouldn't have had my poor Rosey laying in the run. I think I may have to start up my cube fund..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phosphorus Posted September 11, 2008 Author Share Posted September 11, 2008 My broody is unbroody today YAY but it has made me realise that one nest box is not enough. If I had had 2 boxes then it wouldn't have bothered me so much as I wouldn't have had my poor Rosey laying in the run. I think I may have to start up my cube fund..... That is the only reason I can get fed up with it and leave them to it - the girls are managing to get in with my other two, the Cube will just about let 3 of them in the nesting box at once. Two is normally the ideal, if not one, with my girls but they are putting up with having to share And there was me thinking that I actually now needed to buy an eglu as well to make more room Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted September 11, 2008 Share Posted September 11, 2008 my lot refuse to share the nest box, so even though there is room in the cube for 3 hens mine will only go in one at a time. If there is a broody in there they make so much noise and we have to remove the broody by force! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Helen&Lee Posted September 11, 2008 Share Posted September 11, 2008 Well it's a good job mine will share! This photo is when I had 4 broody Brahma's in April and the others were still squeezing themselves in to lay. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted September 11, 2008 Share Posted September 11, 2008 Well it's a good job mine will share! This photo is when I had 4 broody Brahma's in April and the others were still squeezing themselves in to lay. 4 broodys would have really tipped me over the edge!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phosphorus Posted September 11, 2008 Author Share Posted September 11, 2008 Those piccies make me feel so much better, my poor squeezed in girls - going to just let them get on with it. Roast is now trying to incubate a wooden egg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
