Patridge bantam chicken poorly foot?

[poppy33]

Help, my 3 chickens are constantly broody, no sooner have we got over one episode when one will start again and the other two will join in. I dont let them sit on the nest and have followed advice from this site using a broody cage, that snaps them out of it but then as I said they are ok for about 2 wks and then off they go again. I hate the broody cage treatment as for the very reason i have chickens is because i hate things in cages. Just wondered if anyone else has had similar problems with constant broodiness. all help and advice very much appreciated.

[chelsea]

yes, I've had constant broodiness from my 2 cochins since march.

 

I think we've had 2 eggs from either hen since March aswell. Both cochins have been broody at the same time or one would snap out of it for a week (whilst the other was broody) and then once the broody one had snapped out of it the other one would go broody again. So yes, my patience has seriously been tested for several months.

 

We tried everything, broody cage, dunking in water, sitting on ice packs, blocking off the nest box and none of it worked, I think I just picked a very maternal breed.

 

Blocking off the nestbox at night when roosting is a good idea though as even though when they are not broody showing/giving them temptation by letting them see an open nestbox at night might give them ideas during the day time!

[poppy33]

Thanks for your reply. Its comforting to know i am not the only person with hens who desperatly want babies thanks for the tip about blocking off the nest area at night, one of the hens does sleep in the nest and as you say that may give her ideas for during the day I will try puting a brick in the nest

[The good lifers]

Our pepperpot is broody this week, sitting on the nest, pecking me when I try to gently shove her off, making a strange noise, half bok, half squeak!!I shut the door to the eglu and this seemed to stop her going on the nest, but the other chicken laid her egg in the run, (in some nice easibed!!), then the pepperpot sat on that! I may try the dunking, as it's difficult to keep policing her , she is constantly returning to the house and trying to get back in- I think it's happened because I'm getting home a bit later and the eggs have been left on the nest for longer...I'll keep you posted on the dunking. I would separate them,until it's over, but the gingernut seems to get lonely???

Hopefully it will be over soon, not because we want the eggs, but she seems really grumpy!!! Please post any other ideas, I don't want to go and buy a cage, they've already cost me loads!!I could put her in the shed, but seems a bit cruel on them both...

[Egg Lou]

My Pied has been broody since day 4 of buying her back in the summer! Had chicks and then went broody again when they were 6 weeks.. dunking doesn't work and haven't managed to source a cage yet as money gone on run etc so hoping cold weather will knock her out of it eventually