4m x 3m Omlet pen, cube, new auto door still boxed and coop light

[alligg]

Hi

I've read some stuff but am I being stupid in asking what a broody cage is,I get its to keep her seperate etc but whats the best thing to use/make it out of etc.

Sorry if I sound dumb but its the first time its happened and I obviously want to do whats best for her,can I also ask about how long it lasts,how often they go broody,will it affect the other chickens etc

thanks for the advice

Alli

[Sammy]

Hi Ali

 

You're questions are not silly and I asked the same questions last week when I experiened my first broody. I'm sure there will be plenty of others that come along with excellent advice as they helped me through mine rrecently, but here's mine based on last week:

 

Broody cage - a dog crate or similar

You put it on bricks so that air can flow freely underneath (cools the hen down).

Only food and water in the cage, nothing else - don't cover the bottom to make it comfortable or add anything for the evening, the idea is you snap her out of it as quickly as possible.

 

During the day keep her in sight of any other hens you have - and at night if she can fit in your run, then put the broody cage in there, or a shed or garage, etc. Don't be tempted to let her out to perch with the others at night.

 

She needs to stay in on average 3 days, 3 nights. I tested mine after a day and a half and she ran straight back to the nest box, mine took 3.5 days, 3 nights.

 

The quicker you deal with her the quicker you will snap her out of it. Whilst she's broody she will lose condition, so make sure she's eating and drinking and get her out of the nest box to do so if she doesn't go of her own free will. You will find her poos are enormous as she expels it all in that one trip or two trips out! I moved my girl 3 or 4 times a day, but I work from home so am around to do so. Supplements like Lifeguard, Poulty Spice etc are valuable during this time to keep her condition topped up.

 

You should also make sure she has a thorough dusting of louse powder, etc as she's susceptible to little invaders whilst sat in the nest box.

 

My girl was broody for 29 days before I bit the bullet and put her in the cage, 3.5 days later she was out of it. Before that I had blocked off the nest box when all the other girls had laid, dunked her in water, etc and none of it worked - it's different for everyone.

 

Mine plucked all her breast feathers so she's bald in that area at the moment - as she was using the feathers to make a nest bless her.

 

Just 2 days after she snapped out of it, she's crouching again so I'm hoping her eggs will return soon.

 

It felt cruel when I did it but after 24 hours I was fine with it and realised it was the right thing to do.

 

So you know, my run isn't tall enough for a broody cage so I kept her in my garage at night (still propped up on bricks) and put her by the run next to the other girls during the day. If it was wet weather I used an old tarpaulin and put it over the sides and top and just held it on with clothes pegs.

 

How often they go broody is individual to the hen - I have 7 and Vimto is the only one so far, but then I've only had them since June. Some people on here have girls who do it every year, each one is different.

 

Vimto didn't affect the other girls, but her 2 "best hens" did pace up and down during the day next to her - I guess they were watching out for their friend!

[Egluntyne]

Have a look at Kate's article about **Broody Hens** too.