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

[clucky chicken]

Aaarrgh!!!! - please help someone... - my Gerty has been broody now for three weeks - have tried everything to no avail and she's getting very thin!

 

When do they come out of it - is it something that naturally happens and they just snap out of it? Am beginning to worry now that she isn't well - although when I put her out to free range with the others she seems perfectly fine and happy - it's just - as soon as we open the gate she runs back to the house and tries to sit on the nest again...

 

Have tried all the remedies that have been recommended but nothing works... I think I need help!!

 

Someone just told me this can go on for three months - Really????

[abwsco]

How long did you keep her in the broody cage for as that usually works.

[poachedegg]

One of ours has gone broody about 3 times now, and each time I have used a broody cage too (I used a dog crate on bricks in the run) for 3 days and nights and it worked each time.

[clucky chicken]

I haven't actually got a broody cage, but used a cat box with nothing else in it - and put it in the garden - (hope that was ok) all day and night time put in the garage -

[abwsco]

I haven't actually got a broody cage, but used a cat box with nothing else in it - and put it in the garden - (hope that was ok) all day and night time put in the garage -

 

Does the cat box have a solid bottom as if so that could be the problem. They need a draught all around their nether regions to cool them down

[margotthechicken]

Margot was broody for ten weeks, it was heartbreaking. She slipped to the bottom of the pecking order, and was being picked on by the rest of the brood. We tried everything, the cooling of the nether regions, removing her from the nest box etc. She was starting to look more than a litlle ropey when my mum asked her 'egg lady', who has had lots of girls for fifty years, for advice. She said to put Margot in the garden shed, with food, water and bedding and leave her for three days and nights. I did all that, and put a stone planter in there to act as a perch, and after the three nights, we had an egg. Hope your lady recovers soon.

[chelsea]

My hardened broodies here stay broody most of the summer months, AND have a laying break over winter!

[Kt Brown]

Hi, I've been having the same problem with Alice. Broody now for 6 weeks in spite of our best efforts. I finally realised that I shouldn't fight her strong instinct and went and got two 4 day old chicks from a friends incubator. At 11pm my son and I crept out, slipped the two chicks under her and the next morning behold the proudest Mama in Surrey!!!

[Egluntyne]

Now that the colder weather is her, she should snap out of it.

[Redwing]

Try putting an ice pack in the nesting box - might put the others off a bit though