ibrunt Posted May 18, 2010 Share Posted May 18, 2010 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 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted May 18, 2010 Share Posted May 18, 2010 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
quickcluck Posted May 18, 2010 Share Posted May 18, 2010 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 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted May 18, 2010 Share Posted May 18, 2010 Instructions here Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ibrunt Posted May 18, 2010 Author Share Posted May 18, 2010 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? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted May 18, 2010 Share Posted May 18, 2010 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). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shoura Posted May 18, 2010 Share Posted May 18, 2010 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! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickyhazel Posted May 18, 2010 Share Posted May 18, 2010 Ours are sorted out of broodiness by being constantly turfed out of the nestbox and prevented from going back by closing the door. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JanTheDiver Posted May 18, 2010 Share Posted May 18, 2010 How long does this take normally? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted May 18, 2010 Share Posted May 18, 2010 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mizhaw Posted May 24, 2010 Share Posted May 24, 2010 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? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted May 24, 2010 Share Posted May 24, 2010 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted May 24, 2010 Share Posted May 24, 2010 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ibrunt Posted June 3, 2010 Author Share Posted June 3, 2010 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 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
