Omlet Smart Autodoor - New in box

[ibrunt]

Recently one of my chickens has been spending most of her time in the coop, rarely coming out. There are no eggs to sit on (removed every day) yet she persist in sitting in (there is no cockerel in the equation). I am worried that she isn't eating, is there any way I can get her out of her broody mood?

 

Thanks in advance

[Ain't Nobody Here]

A broody cage is the only thing that worked for me . I bought a cheap dog crate from Ebay - put it up on bricks to allow airflow and put food/water in. Three days (and nights in a shed/garage/walk in run) and she should be over it.

[quickcluck]

Yup! It's the only thing that has 'sorted' mine out in the past. You feel terrible tho, like the worst of worst chicken mummy.. They look like a battery hen, with more room........

 

Really works tho

[The Dogmother]

Instructions here

[ibrunt]

Great thanks ill give it a go

 

ive got a regular eglu, is it worth me putting the cage in the run? or in the shed?

[Ain't Nobody Here]

If you can fit the cage in the eglu run, do that. If not, a shed will be fine . I put an old towel over the cage at night (leaving the door uncovered).

[shoura]

Yup broody cage worked a treat for mine too...

She was very cross when first put into it and protested loudly for about 10 mins, then settled down and seemed quite content!

[chickyhazel]

Ours are sorted out of broodiness by being constantly turfed out of the nestbox and prevented from going back by closing the door.

[JanTheDiver]

How long does this take normally?

[The Dogmother]

You need to leave them in the Cage of Shame for 3 days 24/7, or in the case of one of my little madams - they might need 2 sessions, but then she is a confirmed broody!

 

They give you the evils for a couple of minutes, then work out that they have their own food and water, so settle down to enjoy it.

 

The idea is to increase the airflow to cool them down, so I put the cage up on a couple of bricks and put it inthe run so they can still all see each other.

[mizhaw]

Thanks so much for the information on the broody cage. I copied your model exactly and it worked well except she did not seem to want to drink from the rabbit drinker. I'm not sure I understand broodiness. Hot flashes?

[Egluntyne]

There is definitely a hormonal surge of some sort.

 

I always find that my hybrids are the ones to go broody, and yet is is supposed to have been bred out of them.

 

I have a very young Speckledy who is trying it on at the mo. Will be dusting off my broody cage today if she hasn't come to her senses.

[The Dogmother]

One of my pekins is a persistent broody over the summer; she's had two consecutive turns in 'The Cage of Shame' recently and is resolutely back on the nest. I am turfing her off 3 or 4 times a day, so she's eating, but I don't want to break her now as i am hoping to set her on some fertile eggs again in a couple or three weeks.

[ibrunt]

Just thought i should let you know how i got on:

 

we built a cage for about £10, put it by the run entrance with food and water and left it for three days, we left the other hens in the run during this time (our broody got a bit jealous). let her out on Tuesday, she seems much happier now and is NOT BROODY!!! I am amazed that it worked, i was sceptical at first. she hasn't started to lay yet but im sure that'll come.

 

thanks for all the help, it does work